TPUG Newsletter Issue 22

The Magazine For ALL Commodore Computer Users

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COMPUTERS IN EDUCATION
The 1750 R>yvl Cartridge

Us e II On Your Commodore 64

Amiga Screen Magic

Introducing the Control
Sequence Introducaf

Issue No. 22

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Type of Computer

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□ SUPERPET (10 disks) □ 4040 D 8050
n C128 (1541 only)

D MS/DOS

□ AMIGA (3y2") (7 disks) D

TFLS Hassshs

Publisher: Bruce Hampson

Editor: Nick Sullivan

Assistant Editors: Tim Grantham

Adam Herst
Production Manager: Asirid Kumas
Editorial Assistant: Iwona Sul<tenriik
Advertising Sates: Joinn Matheson
Cover Illustration: Thorrj K. Wu
Creative Direction (Cover): Sieve MacDowall
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86

TPUG Magazine

#22

Feature: Computers In Educotiort

8 Educational Software Tools by lan a. wright
1 Two Good Educational Games by Malcolm O'Brien

1 2 Educational Software's New Wove by Adam Herst

1 3 Education and The Feedbock Loop by jim Butterfieid

Articles

1 4 Amiga Dispotches by Tim Grantham

18 Magazines for Commodore users by Donald Dalley

29 Speedy Simons' BASIC by Phil Kemp

00 ESCope G2 by Adam Herst

32 i adore my C-576 by Tim Grantham

33 Amigo Screen Magic by Chris Johnson

34 Microcomputers and the Hondicopped

by Malcolm J. MacArthur
37 Double-siding paper: the true facts by Reggie Ramloose

Reference Section

21 Educational software for C-64

24 Software For Kids: A Survey by Efralm Half on

Keviews

40 Newsroom by Mike Martin

41 Crusode In Europe by Dave Dempster

42 GT4 Hi-Productivity Cartridge by Adam Herst

43 Four Books by Jerry and Betty Schueler

Deportments

2 Inside Information

4 Line Noise

6 The Answer Desk with Malcolm O'Brien

31 Marketplace

38 Additions to the TPUG Software Library

38 BBS Password for April and May

39 TPUG Software Order Form

44 Products Received by Astrld Kumas

45 Calendar of TPUG Events

47 UnclQssifieds

48 TPUG Magazine Distributors
48 TPUG Contoas

48 Index of Advertisers

Inside Information

New faces

Two issues ago on this page we welcomed
Tim Grantham to the TPUG Magazine
staff as Assistant Editor. Tim is now a
veteran with piles of seniority as two new
faces have joined us in the office in the
last few weeks.

Most of you will know Adam Herst's
name from a spate of articles he has writ-
ten for us in recent issues. Now we have
demoted him from author to Other
Assistant Editor. Adam is TPUG's CP/M
librarian and meeting coordinator — if
you visit our office , he will be the one sit-
ting in front of the C-128. Adam also has
the distinction of being the only member
of the magazine's editorial staff not in the
last throes of expectant fatherhood.

The other new name on the masthead
this month is that of John Matheson, v/ho
will be selling advertising space in the
magazine from now on. Extracurricular-
ly, John is an IBM PC freak, but we are
trying not to hold that against him. John
insists that he has very little in common
with WKRP's Herb Tarlek. If you have
something you want to sell, give John a
call at (416) 445-4524 and find out if he's
right.

SG-10C upgrade kit

In the January/ Fabruary 1986 issue of
the TPUG Magazine, in 'Products Receiv-
ed', we mentioned an upgrade kit for the
Gemini SG-IOC printer. We also stated
that the upgrade kit would be available
at no charge to current owners of the
printer. Shortly after the magazine was
distributed we received a letter from
Gilles Paquette of Lorettville, Quebec, an
excerpt from which is reproduced below.

I bought an SG-IOC in September ol the

last year and I would like to access the add-
ed features provided by this upgrade kit.

1 contacted the dealer and a salesperson
told me that they give the kit, that is free
of charge, at the time of purchase only.
Because these kits would all go so fast if
given away, present owners have to pay
$19.95 for this kit.

I also inquired at another dealer who
confirmed that the kits were free of charge,
but since I had not bought my printer from
him, he preferred to sell the kit for half the
price.

I would like to have your opinion on this

2 Issue 22

matter. And what should I do, since I am
very much interested in having this but free
of charge.

Our production manager, Astrid Kumas,
contacted the technical support staff at
Star Micronics. She was assured that the
upgrade kit is free of charge to all owners
of the SG-IOC printer, no matter when
it was purchased. Current owners should
order their kits directly from the
manufacturer. Telephone 714-768-4340
and ask for the technical support depart-
ment to place the order.

Auto Repairs

Miklos Garamszeghy has notified us of a
number of errors in his article
'Autobooting on the C-128'.
Una 20 should read:

2B prinf'hoot messaiEie":

input" max 30 chrtrs";me$
:mG$ = left$t mG$,30) ; sa=-

2831+le{ine$)

Line 80 should read:

80 bo$=bo$+chr$( 34)+hf$+
chr$(0) :open15,8, lS,"i"
;openB,a,8,"if;":ifdsthen
dclose : goto 1 10

As well, the memory address mentioned
in paragraph one should read 2816, not
2186. In paragraph two, it is incorrectly

stated that the maximum message length
is 16 characters, while in fact the max-
imum length is 30 characters.

This month

The educational value of microcomputers
has been the subject of reams of adver-
tising hype over the years; however, the
promise of computers in this area has
been largely unfulfilled. There are signs
that this is beginning to change, as Adam
Herst points out in this issue, and
Malcolm O'Brien introduces you in his ar-
ticle to two fine examples of the new
breed of educational software.

Frequent contributor Ian Wright takes
a different tack, with his contention that
many of the best educational programs
are those that, paradoxically, have no
overt educational intent. Meanwhile , Jim
Butterfield shows would-be programmers
of educational software how to set up in-
put routines that are appropriate for the
level of the user.

Next issue we'll be looking at computer
languages, with a timely emphasis on C,
which has in recent years emerged as the
language of choice for many serious ap-
plications, and which is going to see in-
creasing use by Commodore users on
Amiga, Commdore 128 CP/M and
SuperPET/OS-9 systems. See you then.

The editors

D

aeCnOI1K^2001

AN AUTHORIZED COMMODORE SYSTEM DEALER SINCE 1979

/accnorec^ 2001 ltd.

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TPUG Magazine invites you to ex-
press your views on Commodore
computing by vrritijvg to:

Line Noise

TPUG Magazine

101 Duncan Mill Road, Suite G7

Don Mills, Ontario MSB IZS

Canada

Text and graphics

In the January/February 1986 issue of
TPUG Magcucine, Achim K. Knil! of Agin-
court, Ontario, asked for advice in this
column, as he was looking for a word pro-
cessor for the C-128 "as sophisticated as
Paperclip, but (one which) allows the
creation and incorporation of graphs in-
to the text". I suggest he need look no
further than the Paperback series —
Paperback Writer 128, Paperback Plan-
ner 128, and Paper Filer 128, available
from Digital Solutions, Inc., Willowdale,
Ontario.

Although the word processor by itself
will not create graphs, it is easily in-
tegrated with the spreadsheet, which
does create four kinds of graphs — simple
bars, stacked bars, lines, and pies. I own
a host of word processors — including
Paperclip, but this one is the only one I
now use, I find it superb!

Here is a sample of a pie graph done
with this system.

I would be interested in seeing TPUG
Magazine do a review on this software in
the near future.

Eric Meisner
Coldbrook, Nova Scotia

Frmn the example merged into your let-
ter, it looks like the sophisticated pro-
grams that take advantage of the C-128's
enhancements are Jinally making it to
market. While the early word from soft-
ware producers had been that the em-
phasis would be on C-6Jf programs (since
they would also run on the C-128), it looks
like they've been bitten by the C-128 bug.
It really is a new machine and requires,
even demands, new and improved soft-
ware. TPUG Magazine vnll continue to
advise you as to the best and v)orst in
C-128 software as it becomes available.

Commodore and the C-128

Several years ago when I was in the
market to purchase a personal computer
I surveyed different models and conclud-
ed that the Commodore P-128 was the
most suitable. Since the F- 128 never went
into production, I purchased my second
choice, the Commodore 64. When the
Commodore C-128 came out a few
months ago, I was pleased, for it has most
of what I originally liked in a computer.
So I purchased it and gave the C-64 to my
three year old son. However I am not
sure that I made the correct decision on
going with the Commodore line.

In the C-12S System Guide, there is an

Fmr-m IncoM* in Nova Sca-fcia
1980

Cattle <J.7X)

Hogs <11X>

Hon-Crop
Sources <9X>

Other Crops (9X>

Fruit (TX>

airy C29X>

E99S <BX>
Poultry CJ.0X>

Sources of TarM IncoMe

advertisement for purchasing additional
CP/M items. Naturally, I sent away for
these items. This was in September and
with a suggested waiting time of six to
eight weeks, they are long overdue. The
cheque has already been processed and
I have received it cancelled and deposited
in their account along with my bank state-
ment in November. This and rumor that
Commodore is no longer manufacturing
the C-64 makes me wonder. We even
have had problems obtaining parts for
C-64 and 1541 repair. (I work for a school
district as an audio-visual technician and
repair their computers.)

I have sent four letters to them asking
for the items or a reason why the delay
and not a one was answered. I made
telephone calls and the line was constant-
ly busy for two days. Just recently I
wrote to the Better Business Bureau
there and am waiting for a reply.

Is there something wrong with the
company? Are they moving to rely heavi-
ly on the Amiga and discontinue previous
lines including the C-128? I have seen
more software support for the Amiga
then the C-128. Have I made an error in
judgement for myself, friends and
business (I suggested the C-64's and the
C-128's to my employer)? Should I pur-
chase another system which I see as be-
ing universal in its usage?

I hope you might be able to give some
light on this.

Thomas M. Hejl
Farmingdale, New York

Although long delays have plagued the
C-128, it may yet prove to be the sleeper
of the year. Even after the intermivMbk
delays, the computer was rushed to
market and the nwst visible signs of this
are in the CP/M mode. The original CP/M
system packaged imth the C-12S lacked a
number of important features and the
infrastructure required to support it was
incomplete at the time of release. In
Canada, the agent handling the DRI of-
fer seemingly never existed. Responsibil-
ity for the backlog of unfilled orders and
unopened mail was assumed by Com-
modore, and from all reports has been
eliminated. All future reponses to this of-
fer should be addressed to CBM in West
Chester.

4 Issue 22

It is discouraging to hear of your pro-
blems with Commodore. My recent ex-
periences with the company had indicated
that they had cleaned up their act and
even answered telephone calls. Perhaps
this was due to my proximity to their
Toronto office. In the same way that a
society is judged by the treatment of its
most disadvantaged members, a company
should he judged on its handling of the
least significant cmnplaint My faith in
Commodore is not yet shaJcen Imt stories
like yours do a lot to weaken it.

As to finding parts, my advice is that
you get in touch with the author of the next
letter.

Cuss 'n' boots

Sometimes your computer may dispute
you about trivial matters. It may insist
that you made a syntax error, that there
is something WTong with your brillant
algorithm, or even that it has somehow
run out of data. What's worse is that the
computer never backs down, it will just
sit there for hours, forcing you to make
picky little changes until you finally suit
it.

At times like these the urge to heave
it through the nearest windoow can be
overwhelming. Well , I'm here to tell you,
"DON'T DO IT!" The broken glass is a
real mess to clean up. Plus around here
a broken window means one of two things
— swarms of hungry mosquitos, or freez-
ing winter winds.

Instead do like professional program-
mers do, re-boot it. That's right — open
the back door, and lightly hold the com-
puter between the first two fingers of
each hand in a horizontal position. Now
take a big step with your left foot, release
the computer and swing your right foot
forward briskly so that your toes strike
the middle of the back of the computer
as it nears the ground. It's known as
BOOTing because you should be wearing
shoes at the time, preferably heavy boots
with steel reinforced toes. (They may cost
a little more, but the first time that you
try this with your bare feet will convince
you that they're worth it.) Computers be-
ing as stubborn as they are, your next one
will very likely be as balky as the last one.
That is why it is called RE-booting.

Perseverance and determination will
eventually get your point across. You'll
probably never have a computer that will
just run your programs without error
messages, but you should get to see the
READY prompt at least as often as SYN-
TAX ERROR.

Incidentally, my dealer is so en-
thusiastic about my computer training

method that he gives me a 5,5% discount
when I order in quantities of 20 or more.
This adds up to a lot of money and you
might want to check with your dealer
about a similar deaJ.

Scott Duncan
Superior, Nebraska

Let us wot forget that fundamental dif-
ferences exist between the hard boot and
the soft boot. While often less effective, the
soft boot can be accomplished without the
use of extra peripherals. The throwing of
a loafer or sneaker at the keyboard from
distances as great as ten meters can effec-
tively subdue even the most rebellious com-
puter. Unfortunately, this method is not
foolproof and the equipment required to
hard-boot your system is often required
as well.

Thanks for asking

As a teacher of computer programming
and literacy, I have found articles in
TPUG Magazine that I would like to
assign to my classes to read. I am a
strong believer in the copyright laws for
software. It wouldn't be very consistent
to have a strong stand on software and
illegally copy magazines. My question is
this: is it illegal to copy magazine articles
for my classes to read? I know Jim But-
t^rfield's articles have a special note
about this at the beginning, but what
about the other articles?

Jim Aspin
Flint, Michigan

The copyright on TPUG Magazine ar-
ticles is either retained by the author, in
which case a copyright line appears above
the author's byline, or is assigned to
TPUG, in which ease no copyright line
appears. If the author has retained the
copyright, you will need to apply to the
magazine, preferably in writing, and we
unit communicate with the author on your
behalf and attempt to gain the necessary
permission. If the copyright is held by
TPUG, on the other hand, you are
welcome to photocopy the article and
distribute it, provided you do not charge
a fee, and provided you acknowledge
TPUG Magazine as your source. If you
wish to include a TPUG Magazine art-
icle in any publication for which money
will be charged, you will again have to get
in touch with us: we unit consider such ap-
plications on an individual basis. By the
way, we're glad you find the magazine
useful in your classes, and thanks for
checking about the copyright.

Nick Sullivan

Life Saver Holes?

The University of Washington (Seattle)
reprinted the 'please don't bang the 1541
head when you find a disk error' routine
from the Midnight Software Gazette,
which was, I believe, the original source.

At the next meeting, I was confronted
with an irate member who had used the
routine. Afterward, his drive failed to res-
pond to any commands. Sweating just a
bit, we removed the top cover and
centered the head manually (power off),
then tried reading a directory. The drive
came back to life. Being a venturesome
soul, the member proceeded to try the
anti-knock routine again, with the same
results.

The utility has worked for everyone
else I know that has tried it. The only
reason we could see that it didn't work
for our unfortunate member is that he has
an 'old' long-board 1541 with (probably)
an older version DOS ROM, so perhaps
your readers who have older drives
should proceed with caution when using
anti-knock commands.

Incidentally, a similar routine that
hasn't received wide press is 'don't bother
to bump the head when you format this
disk'. To send that command to the drive,
change the '106' to '81' and the '133' (or
'197') to '1'. Location 81 ($51) in the
drive's RAM holds the current track
number to format. It normally starts with
'255' and bumps the head. By changing
it to '1', the head will simply go to track
M 1 and start formatting, 'This also works
with many of the 'fast format' routines.

There's good and bad in using this
trick. The good is that the head doesn't
bump. The bad is that the location of
track 1 on the disk you format depends
on the formatting of the last disk in the
drive, not on how well your drive is align-
ed. When reading a disk formatted on a
poorly aligned drive, the head will hunt
about for a bit to find track 18, Once
that's located, it then can read the rest
of the tracks. When you issue the no-
bump/format commands, the head will go
to track 1 position based on the poorly-
ahgned drive's disk.

If you use only disks that came from
well-aligned drives, or you have courage
and faith, try the no-bump on formatting
too . , . and Hsten to the quiet!

Noel Nyman, President
University of Washington Users' Group
Seattle, Washington D

TPUG Magazine 5

The Answer Desk

with Malcolm O'Brien

// you have a question for The
Answer Desk, write to us at:

Ariswer Desk

TPUG Magazine

101 Duncan Mill Road, Suite G7

Don MUls, Ontario MSB IZS

Canada

C-128 software sources

I'm a new C-128 user, and have a few
questions about software. I know that a
few (very few) items are now available ,
but I'd like to get some suggestions
before spending lots of money on
something 1 won't like. Of interest would
be a database manager (I use
Superba8e64; has anyone tried
Superbasel28?). I would also like a ter-
minal that can take advantage of all that
glorious 128 memory (I have a 1064
modem that I currently use with VIP
Term in 64 mode). A nice big workspace
would be nice, maybe 1200 baud as well.
And where are the 'thousands' of CP/M
programs that Commodore claims are
available? I work as a production
manager and might have some applica-
tions. Any help would be appreciated.

Bryan

Toronto, Ontario

First, the database: since you're already
using Superba»e64, it would make sense
for you to investigate Saperbaael28. This
will undoubtedly save you time in file con-
versions. You may also find some use for
the extra memory, although Precision
Software may have already done that for
you. I'm. not really familiar with either
•product. . . Of course, you have the option
of v^ing dBase II now that you have a
CP/M machine! It's more expensive than
the database managers that C'6^ owners
are used to, hut it's very good, and there
are many dBase applications available.
Second, the terminal programs: I expect
that we'll soon see a new modification of
Paul Higginbottom's public domain
Term64. It wovld make sense for it to be
called Tkirdterm. I would expect this to
be similar to Secondterm (on TPUG
lH/rary disk (C)C4) but u/ith a much larger
buffer. We may see other protocols as well
— Xmodem or Kermit perhaps. The

original 128 CP/M did not support
telecommunications, but this has been, fix-
ed; the update is availalile through TPUG.

Make no mistake, Bryan, there are
thousands of CP/M programs out there.
Until the advent of PC-DOS/MS-DOS,
CP/M was the dominant operating system
for microcomputers. It is still widely used
by owners ofKaypros, Osbomes and other
cmnputers (including IBMs). Word has it
that anything written for the Osborne will
work properly on the C-128. Adam Herst,
TPUG's CP/M librarian, has stated that
any software that includes an instcULcom
file should be configurable for the C-128.

Prospective C-128 CP/M users should
investigate user groups and educational
institutions in their locality. In Toronto,
contact: Canada Remote Systetns, i691
Dundas Street West, Toronto, Ontario.
Their telephone number is l-Jtl6-2S9-2835.

Canada Reinote Systems deals in both
public domain and commercial software.
Doumloading is available for members.

If you live in the United States, you can
contact: Lifeboat Associates, 1651 Third
Avenue, New York, New York 10128.
Their number is 1-800-847-7078, but if you
live in New York state call 1-212-860-OSOO,

1526 pitch perplexity

Since September 1985, 1 have been using
a program developed by Briley Software
of Livermore, California, which performs
all of the record-keeping functions of a
bowling league secretary. More recent-
ly, I added an additional program, by the
same company, that prepares the recap
sheets on which the bowlers enter their
scores. This involves printing bowlers'
names, averages and handicaps on pre-
printed forms. It is important, of course,
that the printing register reasonably ac-
curately with the spaces on the form.

I found it impossible to adjust the paper
positioning so that the print would
register properly. The people at Briley
determined that the 1526 prints 80
characters in 7.5 inches rather than the
standard 80 characters in 8 inches. Com-
modore service in Phoenix and in
Westchester told me that there is no ad-
justment possible. Your organization is
my one last hope.

Warren A. Smith
Sun City, Arizona

Hope may spring eternal, but in this case
the spring is only a trickle. You 're quite

right that the 1526 (and the 802, of course)

prints in the thoroughly non-standard
pitch often and two-thirds, and this is set
in stone (make that silicon).

The only solutions to your problem —
and neither is very satisfactory — would
be to either purchase a different printer,
or to design you own form with the spac-
ing set up for the 1526.

PET printer interfaces

I have a Commodore PET 'Fat Forty'
computer with a 4022 printer. I would
like to upgrade to a better printer — one
capable of near letter quality , and so on .
I am confused as to what kind of inter-
face I need to add a non-Commodore
printer. I thought I needed an lEEE-to-
parallel interface, but my local computer
store tells me that these are not being
made anymore. What advice can you
give?

Loran McKelvey
Rockton, Illinois

Computer dealers have to handle what's
currently popular, and that's why you'll
have little success finding the device you
need from such sources. There are two
avenu£s I can suggest to you, Loran. The
first is to see if one of the printer manufac-
turers can supply you with an IEEE-
interfaced printer. I understand that
Brother will supply their printers with an
IEEE interface, although you must
custom order. (As an aside, I found out
about this in a typewriter store, not a
computer store). It may be that the situa-
tion is similar with Epson.

If neither of these companies maJces the
printer you want, your second option is
to see if they can supply you unth an in-
terface. In the TPUG office there is a
Smith-Corona daisy wheel typewriter that
has something called a 'Messenger
Module'. The Messenger Module attaches
between the edge connector on the PET
and your PET-to-IEEE cable.

These are just the sources that I'm
aware of. There may be more. Another
possible path through the printer maze
may be found in the world of Hewlett-
Packard. The same IEEE-J,88 bus that's
in the PET is known as the GPIB (General
Purpose Interface Bus) by HP types. HP
is a popular choice among scientists and
engineers, so you may be able to find what
you're looking for in a store that handles
oscilloscopes and the like. □

6 Issue 22

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Educational Software Tools

by Ian A. Wright

Copyright ^ 1985, Ian A. Wii^kt

How do you select educational software
that's suitable for use in the home?
Almost any imaginable software can be
used to teach somebody something, but
'good educational software' is very dif-
ficult to define. You can justify using
Space Invaders with students who have
limited eye-hand co-ordination. Even use
it as a reward for behaviour modifica-
tion. , . but Space InvaderB is not usual-
ly considered to be 'educational' software.

Are we quibbling over semantics? Is the
distinction important to a customer
wishing to buy educational software for
home use? Absolutely! Buyers who don't
understand wky they buy a piece of
educational software may buy a program
that's not appropriate for their needs, or
even buy a program that impedes rather
than enhances learning.

Schools in Ontario must teach specific
material as outlined by the Ontario
Ministry of Education, and described in
detail in the Ministry's curriculum
documents. Any educational software
must be appropriate to the classroom cur-
riculum and be appropriate for the
students. Teachers are expected to
carefully screen any software before they
use it, to select the most suitable soft-
ware, and to be able to support its use by
their students. This is not the case for
educational software used in the home.

I know that teachers have great dif-
ficulty selecting, using and applying
educational software in schools, because
I've watched as software that's terrific
in my classroom became 'ho -hum' in
another teacher's class — and the reason
was neither a function of the teacher's
skills nor of their students.

Recent research at The Ontario In-
stitute for Studies in Education (01 SE)
has suggested that as simple a factor as
the accessibility of the computer can af-
fect the success or failure of some educa-
tional software. In the home, the com-
puter may be part of the family room or
the bedroom, or even be a temporary ad-
dition to the TV set. It may be the pro-
perty of all the family members, or be
assigned to one family member and
grudgingly lent to the others. The varie-
ty of possible scenarios only adds to the
difficulty of choosing and using educa-

tional software. And the computer's
novelty will not compensate for any in-
appropriate software.

Since 1979, the crowds of students that
'hung out' in the school computer rooms
have vanished into thin air. FVom line-ups
before and after school, and near-
stampedes to secure a place at a machine,
now I see only a few conscientious
students who want to finish an assign-
ment. The novelty has worn off the use
of microcomputers in education, and poor
software is now poorly received by
students who are no longer computer
novices.

I like to classify educational software
into four groups based on its use:

• Gaines and Simulations: these ac-
ti\'ities use imagination and fiction to
cultivate thinking, reasoning and
decision-making skills or to develop broad
concepts;

• Drill and Practice: similar to the old
flashcard technique. A tireless instructor
of repetitive activities like number facts
or keyboard skills;

• Tutorial and Demonstration: pro-
grams that display materials or activities
that cannot easily be shown any other
way because they're complex, dangerous,
or impossible to capture using other
methods;

• Tools and References: these programs
can simplify a task like writing an essay,
calculating and drawing a graph, or ac-
cessing a library's card catalogue.

Many educational programs have more
than one of these characteristics: tutorials
often include a review quiz, a simulation
may provide incidental drill in arithmetic
skills, and so on. For this article, I will
deal only vrith the latter group — the tools
and references — since this area of educa-
tional software , I believe, is most suited
to use in the home.

How can you tell whether a particular
piece of software is 'good' for educational
purposes? Here are some tips:

• Good educational software does
something that cannot be done as well by
any other method of instruction.

• Good educational software puts the stu-
dent in charge of the program and in con-
trol of things like speed, volume and
colours.

• Good educational software allows ex-
ploration and manipulation rather than

insisting that the student follow a
prescribed path. The program offers a
variety of choices and options.

• Good educational software motivates,
interests and reinforces the learning
without becoming repetitive and boring.

• Good educational software is open-
ended. It can be used for a variety of
needs, and is not 'completed', but can be
revisited at a later time.

• Good educational software does not
need a lot of instruction and supervision.
It is 'bullet-proof and without errors.

Let's look at some examples of educa-
tional software tools that are appropriate
for use in the home:

Writing tools

A word processor is a software tool. It
allows you to manipulate words, change
them, edit them, move them around as
much as you want — • tvitkout reii>ritir^
them. Anyone who finds writing difficult
because ofiackofskill.or because of lear-
ning disabilities, will quickly learn to ap-
preciate a word processor. I have watch-
ed primary -school children, students with
writing problems, retired businessmen,
housewives and others beam with pride
at their printouts — each page neatly for-
matted and free of errors. It did not just
'happen' — it took both time and effort
for them to learn how to manipulate the
text: to 'cursor around' and to insert and
delete, and to edit and revise until they
were satisfied. I always suggest starting
with a simple word processor program
like Storywriter or Textmaster. The
main commands are in five or six menu
selections, so there's not a lot of memoriz-
ing in order to use these programs. I
strongly recommend a disk drive for
storage, and you will definitely need a
good quality printer. A word processor
without a printer is as useless as a kicks-
tand on a horse!

With time and experience, you can
upgrade to word processors with lots of
additional features. Block moves, foot-
noting and search -and -replace functions
will soon prove irresistible — but don't
get bogged down in these complicated
features when you start. Some of the ad-
ditional features, however, are valuable
educational tools in their own right.

A built-in spelling checker can actual-
ly improve your spelling skills, because

8 Issue 22

most spelling errors are not from slop-
piness or carelessness, nor are they sinnp-
ly typographical mistakes. In many cases
the writer does not see any errors until
they are pointed out. Learning about
word and letter recognition is an essen-
tial part of the spelling process. A
spellcheck program doesn't correct your
spelling, it merely points out words that
it does not recognize . You have to iden-
tify the correction and make the change.
The spelling checker is infinitely patient,
and it is not judgemental. It will correct
the spelling of the same word for the one
hundredth time and not make a rude
comment.

Music tools

Music programs are educational tools
because , just as word processors let you
manipulate the alphabet, music pro-
cessors will let you manipulate sound.

when attached to a high quality dot-
matrix printer.

Learning music using a music pro-
cessor is experimental rather than
directed. It is free-form rather than cur-
ricular. It certainly is fun!

Data base tools

Homes with computers and modems can
access on-line data bases at almost any
hour of the day or night. You can get up-
to-date information on the current state
of the minerals industry from on-line
news; you can find out about famous peo-
ple from an on-line encyclopaedia; you
can even download references from a
library with an on-line index.

Research skills are developed through
the junior -school nature project and the
middle-school explorers' presentation.
The high-school research paper leads to

You learn what an 'envelope' is, what a
'rest' means, and what changing 'tempo'
does. You do this by actually changing a
piece of music and listening to the result.
You can write your own compositions,
rewrite existing music, score an instru-
ment, transpose music to another key —
or even create a new instrument that's
never been heard before!

Music software can help you with
keyboard skills, as well as musical com-
position and theory — if you have the
hardware keyboard. Both the word pro-
cessor and the music programs need ap-
propriate hardware. 'The word processor
needs a printer, while the music software
is best with a keyboard. Some music soft-
ware, like TPUG's music freeware, re-
quires you to learn a notation system
that's different from classical notation,
and more suited to the electronic
manipulation of sound. Some music
systems, however, will produce printouts
of complete scores in standard notation

a grade thirteen critical analysis, and so
on. All these activities can benefit from
improved research skills. The 'educa-
tional' software is a terminal program
with a built-in capture function, used to
access a data base through a modem and
a telephone line. Together, the software
and hardware can help to build the skills
necessary to search effectively and to
select material carefully — skills that will
increase in value as information becomes
even more accessible in the near future.

Printer tools

Educational printer utilities can range
from the simple lettering and font-
making programs, through menu-driven
programs using 'clip-art' pictures, all the
way to Computer-Assisted Design and
Drafting (CAD/D), which can almost
replace the drafting table. Few can afford
the software for CAD/D at home, but
there are some surprisingly sophisticated
printer tools available for home use. Pro-

grams that can make banners can be us-
ed to print titles and headings for those
class presentations. Clip-art programs
(like "The Print Shop) can make cards,
signs, letterhead, banners and posters,
using inexpensive software and
hardware.

Drawing tools

There are a number of special programs
that let you pick points on the screen,
draw lines, circles or rectangles, draw
freehand with a variety of 'pens', and
then use a palette of colours to fill or paint
what you have drawn. These programs
are manipulative tools because you can
draw, erase, redraw and save your draw-
ings for future use — just as a word pro-
cessor does with text.

Children who have difficulty drawing
find that they can draw and erase without
'making a mess'. For them, a drawing
program is a major asset. I have watch-
ed children in kindergarten produce
beautiful kaleidoscopic pictures, and I
have used this kind of program to create
screen displays for professional contracts.
Some programs work through a 'touch-
tablet' that translates what you draw on
its small surface into a full-screen display.
Other programs use joysticks, or a
trackball (which I prefer) as drawing
devices.

Be careful that your program supports
your printer and that it will load from
your drive. I like to use a 4040 dual drive,
but my favourite drawing program will
not load because of the disk-protection
scheme the manufacturer uses, I also
spent almost fifty dollars for a printer
utility, specifically designed to print my
file of drawings, but it would not support
my Epson MX-80 printer.

Before you walk out of the store with
what you hope will be a useful home
educational tool — try it ovt:

• Have the program loaded into your kind
of machine from your kind of drive in the
store before you buy. This way you don't
get home with a program that's meant
for a C-128 and will not run correctly on
your VIC-20.

• Check that it will work with your
printer and interface unit. If necessary,
take your equipment to the store so that
you can see a sample of the output. This
is especially true of colour printers, or
those 'no-name' brands of dot matrix
printers.

• Ask the salesperson if you'll need ad-
ditional input or output devices —
joysticks, touch-pads, a modem — for the
software to be fully functional. D

TPUG Magazine 9

Two Good Educational Games

by Malcolm O'Brien

Educational computing has come of age.
Sunburst Communications has provided
us with products of this maturation pro-
cess in the form of two exceptional
courseware packages. Sunburst's com-
mitment to the educational field is ap-
parent in every detail of these packages.
They are not simply games with educa-
tional value. Neither are they programs
that will be used once or twice in a
classroom and then forgotten. They really
are courseware, and fairly demand that
they be included in the curriculum so that
their full potential may be realized.

Increasingly, the educational system is
focusing its attention on a problem-
solving approach to learning. A group of
teachers in Rochester, Minnesota have
developed a Problem Solving Skill Matrix
that breaks down problem-solving skills
into four categories: memory, cognitive
skills (discrimination, rules and attrib-
utes), strategies and creativity. Sunburst
has used this matrix as a springboard for
their development of problem-solving
courseware.

It is the third category, strategies, that
we are specifically concerned with here.
The Factory and The Incredible
Laboratory are designed to teach several
aspects of problem-solving strategy. One
of their most valuable aspects is their
ability to help the student recognize these
strategic skills within himself in the
course of solving problems. With this
recognition comes the ability to exercise
and develop these skills.

The Factory

from Sunburst

Communications

Educational Software
for Commodore 64

The Factory addresses itself to the
following four areas: working backwards;
analyzing processes; looking for (and
hopefully finding!) a pattern or sequence;
and openness to insight and flexibility,
that is, applying creativity. The program
has excellent credentials, having been
named 'Best Microcomputer Software of
the Year' by the Learning Periodicals

Group, and having received Honourable
Mention in the 1983 National Software
Contest of the Council for Exceptional
Children. These awards are well
deserved, and are fitting testimonial to
the calibre of the product.

The Factory simulates a factory in
which you install an assembly line to
create products using three machines —
a punch press, a striping machine and a
rotating machine. The punch will punch
either round holes or square holes. You
can choose how many such holes (one,
two or three) will be punched into your
product (which appears as a square piece
of sheet metal). TTie stripe machine will
etch an end-to-end stripe across the
middle of your product. Your choice here
is to decide whether the stripe should be
thin, medium or thick. The rotating
machine will turn your product 45, 90,
135 or 180 degrees in a counterclockwise
direction. An assembly line consists of a
sequence of these machines, with a max-
imum of eight machines allowed per
assembly Hne. It is left to the user's
discretion to determine which machines
will be used, what attributes those
machines will have, and how many
machines will be placed on the assembly
line.

The Factory's documentation suggests
that, before using the program, the
teacher discuss with the students the con-
cept of degrees of rotation. It should also
be made clear to the students that rota-
tion in The Factory happens in a
counterclockwise direction.

The Factory begins with a menu that
offers you five choices. You can test a
machine, build a factory, make a product,
get instructions, or end the program and
return to BASIC. When you select Test
A Machine , you have the opportunity to
examine each of the three machines in ac-
tion. You choose which machine you want
to test, assign it attributes, and observe
the effect that such a machine will have
on your piece of sheet metal.

After trying out all the possible com-
binations, you return to the menu and
choose Build A Factory. This entails put-
ting a variety of machines on the
assembly line by following a very simple,
menu-driven process. When you've finish-
ed installing machines, the assembly line
starts to roll! Programmer Eric Grubbs
has made good use of sprites, animation
and sound to make this a very entertain-

ing procedure. When the last machine has
done its work, The Factory will display
the finished product for your perusal . It
is at this point that you can employ the
technique of working backwards to
discern how each machine, its attributes
and position in the sequence, has con-
tributed to the development of the final
product. At this point you are offered the
option of challenging another student to
recreate your product from scratch.

After building several factories,
understanding of the concepts involved
deepens, and the corresponding skills
become more acute. Now you (or your
students) are ready for the tricky part.
Make A Product. The Factory will show
you a product that has been made using
several machines, and ask you to
reconstruct the sequence of machines and
processes used in its creation.

You can make an easy, medium or hard
product. An easy product uses two
machines; medium, up to five; and hard,
up to eight. If you fail to make the prod-
uct initially you can go back and keep try-
ing until you get it right.

That's the extent of the program.
Although it may seem simple, it is very
effective in developing the indicated
skills. The icing on the cake is the extra
material provided for the teacher. The
Factory includes notes on classroom use
that offer recommended classroom and
at-home activities designed to reinforce
the learning process and to apply the
skills creatively. My son, Sean, was as in-
trigued by these activities as he was by
the program, a sure sign that the con-
cepts are being presented in such a way
as to encourage the student in the learn-
ing/discovery process.

One of the activities is a game called
I'm in Charge. One .student (the super-
visor) determines what the product will
look like and the second student (the
worker) must attempt to duplicate the
product by using the Build A Factory act-
ivity. If the worker fails, the supervisor
must try to duplicate the product. If the
supervisor fails too, the students ex-
change roles. As you can see, the
designers at Sunburst — Marge Kosel
and Mike Fish in this case — know what
kids like, and have applied their
knowledge well.

They understand teachers' require-
ments too, and have included three extra

10 Issue 22

pages that will be appreciated by the in-
structor. Two of these are Factory
Challenge Sheets, which are used in the
classroom to expand the scope of the pro-
gram's utility. The third sheet is a Fac-
tory Product Sheet, which is used by the
student to record the assembly lines and
products created. This allows the teacher
to monitor the student's use of and pro-
gress with The Factory.

The Incredible

Laboratory

from Sunburst

Communications

Educational Software
for Commodore 64

In The Incredible Laboratory students
have the opportunity to become Dr.
Frankenstein! Various chemicals are
combined to create colourful and unusual
monsters. Students begin by concocting
different chemical 'soups', by selecting
chemicals to use from a list of five.
Students can elect to use all five
chemicals, only one, or any number in
between. On the screen there is a beaker
filled with a bubbling liquid that changes
colour each time a new chemical is add-
ed to the mix. This beaker sits over a gas
flame that looks and sounds amazingly
realistic.

When the student is finished selecting
chemicals, the liquid is evaporated into a
dazzling, sparkling steam that moves into
a larger vessel where it is condensed into
the monster. Each monster is composed
of five body parts: head, arms, legs, body
and feet. Each of the chemicals chosen is
responsible for one of these body parts;
but which chemicals correspond to which
part? The experimenter must infer which
chemical was responsible for each aspect
of the resulting monster. Does Black Ice
make the snake body? Does Alien Oil en-
sure that your monster will be wearing
sneakers? Maybe Super Acid yields three
heads . . .

That describes the Flay option of
Novice level of The Incredible
Laboratory. There are three levels of
play: Novice, Apprentice and Scientist.
The latter two are further divided into
two sub-levels each. After performing a
number of experiments in the Play mode,
the student can switch to Challenge mode
and test another student's ability to
create monsters with prescribed features.
In Challenge mode. The Incredible
Laboratory will ask for each student's

name. Players then take turns choosing

chemicals. When they are done, the pro-
gram will display three monsters, only
one of which is 'correct'. Each player is
asked to identify which of the three
monsters was created by the chemicals
that they used. After the selections are
made, the 'real' monster is revealed and
the 'impostors' melt. This is a super ef-
fect brought to you courtesy of Eric
Grubbs, programmer.

Every level has Play and Challenge
modes, and they are always implemented
in the same way in terms of play
mechanics and visual display. However,
the play parameters change as you ad-
vance through the various levels. At the
Novice level, students work with only five
chemicals. These chemicals have the same
effects each time the program is run.

At Apprentice level one, students select
from five groups of three chemicals each.
Each grouping corresponds to a partic-
ular body part. Chemicals have the same
effects as they did in the Novice section.
At Apprentice level two, the plot
thickens. Students may now choose two
chemicals from each group. Since every
chemical in a group relates to the same
body part, selecting two creates a new
combination that has an entirely different
effect on that part!

At the Scientist level, things get very
difficult. Play is more or less the same as
in the Apprentice section; in level one
play, you can choose up to one chemical
from each of the five groups; and in level
two play, up to two. The difference is
that, at the Scientist level , the chemicals
have different effects each time the pro-
gram is run! Just when you thought you
had it licked by memorizing what each
chemical did .... No refuge for the men-
tally lazy here! Scientist level demands
that students apply the problem-solving
strategies each time the level is achieved.

As you have no doubt determined, The
Incredible Laboratory is somewhat
more complex and sophisticated than The
Factory, It involves performing many ex-
periments, recording the data, and
making extrapolations from those data.
Consequently, the documentation is more
extensive, as is the 'up-front' work of
preparing the students. While a greater
degree of instructor support is required,
the documentation simplifies this work
somewhat by including both Classroom
Lessons and Software Lessons.

The Classroom Lessons include
worksheets and transparencies that are
used before the students begin to work
with the program. The Software Lessons
are intended to follow up on the
Classroom Lessons by making the

students apply their skills creatively. You
can tailor these lessons to a particular
group of students or grade level by deter-
mining the extent to which you want to
structure the students' thinking.

The Incredible Laboratory was
designed by Marge Kosel, Jay Carlson
and Melissa Verber. Ms. Verber is also
responsible for the design of the
monsters, who are actually more charm-
ing than frightening.

The Incredible Laboratory addresses
seven problem-solving skills: successive
scanning, or trial and error; making
organized lists — that is, structured note-
taking; information gathering, through
research or experimentation; looking for
a pattern or sequence; analyzing — sub-
dividing a problem and solving it in parts;
scanning for clues and hints, seeking out
critical information; conservative focus-
ing, varying only one aspect or value at
a time to eliminate non-critical attributes;
and focus gambling, varying more than
one aspect at a time. The main thrust of
The Incredible Laboratory is the first
two of these, successive scanning and
making organized lists.

Sunburst Communications have two ex-
cellent products on their hands. You'll
want them in your hands, too! And in the
hands of your students (or children).
These courseware packages are too good
to pass up. The design, programming and
materials are all excellent and so is the
support. The Sunburst warranty
guarantees replacement of any program
component that becomes lost or damag-
ed during normal use. Very impressive.
What's more, that's a lifetime warranty!

Both packages include a backup disk,
an absolute necessity in a school environ-
ment. Teachers are usually up to their
necks in paper, and will appreciate the
full-sized, three-ring binders. What more
could you ask for? A toll-free phone
number? You've got it!

You say your school board doesn't use
Commodore 64s? No problem. Both pro-
grams are available for the Apple II
series and the CoCo. Additionally, The
Factory is available for the Acorn and the
IBM PC/PCjr.

Of course, these programs were sub-
jected to intense scrutiny by my regular
pane! of expert software evaluators — my
children, Grace and Sean. Grace got the
upper hand in Challenge mode when she
discovered that Red Dust makes . . . well,
maybe I should let you figure it out
yourself.

The Factory and The Incredible
Laboratory, Sunburst Communications
Inc., 39 Washington Avenue, Pleasant-
ville, NY 10570. D

TPUG Magazine 11

Educational Software's New Wave

by Adam Herst

In the rush to market the 'home' com-
puter, most major manufacturers
stressed its educationsJ value and blatant-
ly played on parents' fears of their
children's academic failure. Unfortunate-
ly, the quality of the educational software
tended to fall far short of its glowing
promise.

These early educational programs
failed for many reasons. Thrust hastily
upon the market, with little or no input
from educators, they failed to exploit the
unique capabilities that can make com-
puters a valuable educational tool. The
programming was usually unsophisti-
cated — perhaps because the best pro-
grammers were busy churning out word
processors and arcade games!

It was often difficult to determine ex-
actly what was educational about many
of the educational programs. It didn't
take long for the consumer to realize that
educational software was rarely what it
advertised itself to be, and even more
rarely worth the price. With this com-
bination of factors, the educational soft-
ware market has lain dormant while
other software markets have been more
fully developed.

Recently attention has returned to the
potential of educational software, partly
because of the exhaustion of other
markets. Fortunately, the respite has
allowed educational software concepts to
be refined, not just by the programming
community but by educators as well.

Not surprisingly, this renaissance is
most vigorous in the United States — an
example of the incentive a large market
provides. Nonetheless, at least one Cana-
dian company is poised to play a vital role.
Ingram Software Limited of Canada,
formerly Aviva software, has committed
itself exclusively to the educational soft-
ware market. A recent partner in a joint
venture with Ingram Software Limited
of Buffalo, New York, Ingram of Canada
distributes educational software, from a
variety of manufacturers, across Canada.

Originally an independent distributor of
general software for the Commodore 64,
Ingram feels that its partnership with the
American office can help them overcome
the limitations inherent in the Canadian
marketplace. While hoping to consolidate
the Canadian marketplace, Ingram also

feels that this partnership will be
beneficial to Canadian software authors
by offering them access to a continent-
wide distribution network.

To stimulate the still sluggish Canadian
market, Ingram recently held a day-long
show and forum for educators and
retailers. The exhibitors were companies
who manufacture the packages in the
Ingram product line, including big names
like Ashton Tate, Batteries Included,
Broderbund, Borland, DigitaJ Research,
and Micro Pro.

. . current packages
demand creative
input. . .

The well -attended show provided a
good overview of the current state of the
educational market, an overview that is
both encouraging and disappointing. On
the one hand, the amount of educational
software has dramatically increased, as
has the level of sophistication and polish
in the final packages. On the other hand,
while these packages represent slick pro-
gramming efforts, educational content
still seems to take a back seat.

Educational software is currently
evolving towards an unstructured, in-
teractive learning environment. While
early efforts tended to make use of the
computer as an automated drill master,
some current packages demand con-
siderable creative input from the user.
This has taken the form of the so-called
'construction kits' in which students are
able to construct their own programs,
games and tutorials. In so doing, they
learn about project planning and goal-
directed problem solving, while
simultaneously acquiring the factual
knowledge necessary to build their 'en-
vironment'. Unfortunately, drill-based
programs still seem to predominate. In
addition, very few packages address the
academic needs of students beyond the
elementary school level.

Ingram's Executive Vice President,
Dennis Bennie, admits that the full poten-
tial of computers for education has bare-
ly been tapped, but feels that Ingram can
contribute much to its development.
While acknowledging a dearth of soft-

ware for adult education (pretty much
limited to drill programs for Scholastic
Aptitude Tests and Graduate Record Ex-
ams), he hopes that growing interest in
that area will stimxilate the necessary
research and development.

Dennis was also quick to point out that
those who are doing the most to
discourage the development of
sophisticated programs are those whom
it would benefit most. Piracy in the
schools is rampant, according to Dennis,
and is not limited to a reputedly im-
mature and irresponsible student body.
Financially -pressed educators are among
the worst offenders as they attempt to
provide the best possible learning en-
vironment for their students. Illegal copy-
ing of programs robs the software pro-
ducer of the profits necessary to support
the extensive development required for
high-level programs. While Dennis ad-
mits that it is unlikely that a quick fix will
ever be found, he is hopeful that by
educating the educational software con-
sumer, a mutual sense of responsibilty
can be developed.

Meanwhile, back in the classroom, the
educational use of computers hasn't
changed much since the supposed revolu-
tion. Through informal, round the com-
puter discussions and a short question
and answer session, teachers and
educators at the Ingram show described
a familiar picture. Computers and educa-
tional software aren't making it into the
classrooms. Underfunding is a major
culprit, but educator ignorance is also
cited. Unfamiliarity with the available
machines and software precludes their
extensive use in the classroom . The lack
of an organized plan for implementation
has left the use of computers in the class
up to the initiative and expertise of in-
dividual teachers.

Through the efforts of companies such
as Ingram, the picture is Hkely to change.
The potential for computers as educa-
tional tools can't be denied. At a time of
increasing rigidity in curriculum re-
quirements and concentration on rote
learning of fundamentals, educational
software can provide an unfettered en-
\nronment for creative exploration. A
commitment to sophisticated, high quah-
ty programs, comprehensive distributor
support, and a willingness to listen to end
users and tailor products to their needs,
can't help but improve the situation. D

12 Issue 22

Education and The Feedback Loop

by Jim Butterfield

Copyright © 1986 Jim Bidterfield. Per-
mission to reprint is hereby granted, pro-
vided this notice is included in the
reprinted maiericd.

It's always seemed to me that good
teaching is good feedback. Whether we
are trying to teach ourselves or someone
else, the key to the whole business is how
the feedback is paced to the job. Some
tasks require fast, tight feedback: an in-
stant message that the learner is right or
wrong. Others call for a long slow loop
back to the student.

Let me try to explain myself. Many
years ago, I wrote a program called What
Goes? to illustrate my point. The pro-
gram contrasts poor feedback with bet-
ter feedback. But it also illustrates in a
simple fashion the difference between
tight and loose feedback. Both have their
uses.

Bad feedback goes along these lines:
ask a question, receive the response, and
respond: right or wrong. The student
finds this sort of thing tedious. Worse, at-
tempts to 'enrich' the answer ('Great!
You got it!', or 'Not quite, let's try
again.') quickly become fatuous, especial-
ly after the student has seen such a
response a dozen times or more. The
same is true of sound or visual effects:
they lose their novelty very quickly.

Computers are quite flexible things, if
you want them to be. Allow a student
more interaction and learning is enrich-
ed. We'll come back to this theme in a
moment.

The theme of program What Goes?
was to show the manner in which a stu-
dent could react to questions such as
'What goes moo?', 'What goes oink?' and
'What goes meow?' Most of us know the
answers to these simple questions; write
to the editor if you're not sure. But there
are various ways to ask, and varying
styles of program to receive the answer.

Beginners — especially keyboard begin-
ners — need instant gratification to help
build their self-confidence. I would argue
that, for them, feedback should be on
each character typed. Thus, if the correct
answer to a question is 'cat', the user
should perceive a response to each key
that is touched. Assuming that our pro-
gram has already asked the question,
here's how we might handle the user's at-
tempt to answer:

100 r$="cdt" : rem the Answer
t10 c=1;rem check first

character
120 get x$:if x$="" goto120

; rem get a Key
130 if x$<>mid$( r$,c, Dj/oLo

1 ^0 : rem wrong Key !
140 print x$;:rem right key
150 c=c+1:if c<^Ien{ r$] £oto

120
160 print

Here's what happens: if you press the cor-
rect key, the corresponding letter will
appear on the screen. If you press the
wrong key, nothing happens — that's
valid feedback, too. The reward — a
character on the screen — is instant. The
penalty is not noticeable except that the
student has wasted time and effort on the
wrong key.

Are there variations to this feedback
scheme? Yes: one of the best is to print
the correct character (say, in reverse
font) even when the wrong key is pressed.
Now the computer not only recognizes a
wrong key, but offers the student a cor-
rection or a hint. The above program
might be modified so that line 130 reads:

130 |)rintchr$( 146) ; ; if x$<>
mid$f r$,c, 1) thenprintch
r$r 18) ; :x$=mid$( r$,c, 1)

The chr$(146) clears the screen reverse
mode (in case the previous character was
shown reversed). Then, if the character
has been typed incorrectly, the screen is
set back into reverse mode with chrS(1 8)
and the input character is changed to the
correct one. Don't forget that both print
statements must be followed by both a
semicolon and a colon.

Other combinations? Correct keys could
be rewarded with a bell-like tone; alter-
natively, wrong keys could get the buzzer.
Such audible feedback could be useful to
a supervising classroom teacher who
could detect problem areas by sound . . .
at least until hearing impairment set in.

It seems inadvisable to have the com-
puter draw explicit attention to high
error rates ('You made 4 mistakes in
spelling CAT!!'). The computer can be a
laid-back friend to the student. If desired,
it can repeat a question later that was
wrongly answered.

As our skills become less mechanical in
nature, the feedback loop must be loos-
ened. The student must be allowed to

type words, phrases, sentences or
perhaps even paragraphs before the com-
puter comes back with advice. More
discretion can be allowed in the way an
answer is composed: it may be typed and
then revised before return is pressed.

Hints and other support mechanisms can
be provided. For example:

100 r$='"cat" : rem the answer

110 t=0:rem count the tries

12B t = t+1 : input

"ycjur answer" ;x$

130 if x$=r$ then print
"right!": goto 180

1B0 if t=2 then print

"answer: ";r$:fioto 100

160 print"the answer begins
with: "; leftSf r$, 1)

170 goto 120

180 print

In the above coding, the student is given
two tries. If the first is wrong, a hint is
offered. Two mistakes, and the correct
answer is given. The feedback loop is
slower, as befits a more advanced stu-
dent. The learning path calls for more ef-
fort from the student.

My original What Goes? explored other
areas. More sophisticated hints could be
provided. Further along the instruction
set, the program used its data base to
enrich the answer (or wrong answer) with
more information. The sequence: 'What
goes meow? Response: PIG', would be
followed by, 'No — a pig goes oink.'

More features can and should be add-
ed to increase the students' options. A
student should be furnished with com-
mands such as: Help, Give me an exam-
ple, I give up, Explain <word>, Too
easy, Try that last one again. The com-
mands could be on function keys or
menus, or even presented in icon (pic-
torial) form.

It's best to feel that you are in control
of a computer, rather than a 'victim'. A
student — or a user — with more control
options can set his or her pace, and will
learn more effectively.

I often think that the most powerful
educational programs are those that don't
look educational. I've learned a great deal
about flight from Flight Simulator II
(Sublogic). I've learned quite a bit about
the heavens with Sky Traveller (Com-
modore/Deltron). Yet neither of these
programs has ever presented me with a
quiz, or awarded me a score. D

TPUG Magazine 13

Amiga Dispatches

by Tim Grantham

Now that Amiga users are no longer
biting their nails over CBM's financial
future (I was never worried . . . really),
they are free to start exploring in depth
what some are calling the first super-
microcomputer. The character of the
messages on the Amigaforum has chang-
ed completely from frantic arm-waving
{'I found a pre-release, pre-production,
prototype copy of Amigizmo vO.999 in
Tuscaloosa!') to intense debates on the
relative merits of programming
languages, the eccentricities of
AmigaDOS, and the multitude of hard-
ware expansion options. The days of the
total-machine expert are' gone. The
machine is just too intricate. The Amiga
is really, in my opinion, the first personal
mainframe computer.

Blits and Pieces

We have had some marvelous public do-
main software uploaded to the Amiga sec-
tion in the Commodore Music and
Graphics forum operated by TPUG on
CompuServe (go pcs-155). They include
a series of digitized pictures produced
with the Digi-View system. Using the
Amiga's HAM (Hold And Modify) video
mode, all of the 4096 colours that the cop-
per (graphic coprocessor) can generate
can be put on the screen at once, produc-
ing stunning still images that are hard to
distinguish from television pictures, even
though they use the lo-res mode.

Two other files recently uploaded are
sound digitizations produced with
Futuresound; one a recording of a
helicopter, the other of the dying
screeches of the Wicked Witch of the
West. Jaws dropped here at the magazine
office when Margaret Hamilton's voice
cursed us from the 1080 monitor!

It looks like CBM is lowering the price
of the Amiga 1000, as the current model
is known. Larry Miller of FAUG reports
that Priority One Electronics is now sell-
ing the system unit for $999 (US), $300
less than the original retail price. More
incredibly, they are selling a packaged
system consisting of the Amiga 1000, the
RGB monitor and cable, the 256K RAM
cartridge, and an Epson JX-80 colour
printer with cable, all for $1199!

Paul Higginbottom has finally left CBM
'for good'. Paul, well known to TPUG

members, was formerly the Amiga Pro-
duct Manager for CBM. Our best wishes
to Paul in whatever his next endeavour
may be.

Infoworld has come under fire recent-
ly for its non-coverage of the Amiga.
Despite the fact that many programs are
now available, they are still running a
capsule review stating there is no soft-
ware for it. Their only acknowledgement
of CBM in the last two months has been
in reports of its financial condition. After
some, shall we say, vehement complaints,
the following message dutifully appeared:

#: 11056 so/Forum Bus/News/HELP
08-Mar-86 17:10:29
Sb: InloWorld coverage
Fm: — J Forbes/I nf eWorld 73267,1537
To: [F10] All

Hi, Jim Forbes from InfoWorld, I'm real
curious about message #10777. We don't
cover the Amiga, Hogwash. What do you
think Scott Mace and I have been doing
for the last two years, hanging out in Cuper-
tino, California (ern bars?

One more thing. I was pretty deeply in-
volved in AmigaWorld way back when. Not
interested in the Amiga? What do you think
this is being written on, a Xerox Star? Get
your facts straight.

Jim Forbes-lnfoWorld Staff

The media coverage of the Amiga has
been wildly erratic, varying from absolute
raves to savage pans. The most even-
handed evaluation of the Amiga as it com-
pares to the ST and the Mac is, in my opi-
nion, Bruce Webster's '68000 wars' col-
umn in BYTE. He gives the Amiga high
praise in particular for its expandability,
graphics, sound, documention, and the
multitasking Kernel. He turns his thumbs
down on AmigaDOS, calling it awkward
and poorly thought out.

E A refuses to drop copy protection on
its games for the Amiga, insisting that
CP on these products is essential to its
financial well-being. However, they are
providing non-CP versions of their pro-
ductivity/creativity software, usually for
an additional fee. Meanwhile, Batteries
Included have made their policy clear:

#: 8262 SB/Community Square
15-F8b-86 09:19:19
Sb: #8181-#Commodore Show Report/3

Fm: Michael Reichmann 76703,2007
To: Mark Fulton 75776,3037 (X)
Bl adopted a policy quite a few months ago
of not copy protecting any of our products
in the future. In fact we have started to
remove the copy protection on some of our
existing products!

We feel that any form of copy protection
is counterproductive to the needs of the
user, creates a 'game' for hackers in break-
ing the protection and should be regard-
ed as part of this industry's past, not its
future.

The solution to piracy is to make software
as inexpensive as possible, put it in an
attractive-useful package, produce a good
user manual with decent customer support
to registered owners and remove the
"game" of breaking protection.

[Michael]

Software News

Commodore-Amiga has still not released
the Emulator, though various new-and-
improved beta versions keep popping up.
The following messages (edited) sum up
the current scuttlebutt:

#: 8192 S9/SoftwareDevelopment
14-Feb-86 22:03:43
Sb: #8015-#5-1/4 DISKS.MSDOS.ETC.
Fm: scott drysdale 72127,1510
To: FRANK SCHWAB 73137,3142 (X)

The Transformer can be operated with an
optional 5-25" drive that plugs into the
daisy chain with your 3.5" drives. It writes
standard PCDOS disks (i.e., 360K double
sided, 40 track, 9 sector, 51 2 byte sectors).
I was told this morning by Commodore that
there would be utilities to convert
AmigaDOS format files to MSDOS files.
Also, you can run the transformer with your
3.25" drives, but you do need a format pro-
gram capable of formatting the 80 tracks
on the disk if you want to use them to full
capacity. The standard IBM FORMAT
and DISKCOPY work correctly on the
Transformer, on either size drive (you can
diskcopy 3.5 to 5.25 and vice versa). It
seems pretty well thought out. Even pro-
grams that make heavy use of interrupts
seem to work (Crosstalk XVI. for exam-
ple). I am also told that the final release will
run most copy protected packages (from
the 5.25" drive, I would imagine). As far
as graphics go, it doesn't look like the
software-only Transformer will do them.
It emulates the blah monochrome text card.

14 Issue 22

Also, the version I have played with doesn't
support flashing video {annoying in things
like Multimate that highlight by flashing).
— Scotty

#; 9302 SI /Hardware
25-Feb-86 00:19:37
Sb: #8999-#transformer?
Fm: RICH MEDVED 72366,540
To: RON TROY 76064,252

You're correct about 3.7 not supporting
color Of graphics, Rumor was that that was
(is?) to be added prior to releasing the
Emulator — I wouldn't count on it.

Some of the programs that do run in-
clude Wordstar, The Word, PC Write,
DB II and III, Friday!, Procomm, Fan-
cy Font, Control C Basic Int., and Open
Systems Accounting Packages. Also
Symphony and Rbase 5000. 1 was glad to
see that the PD U^R +SQ (can't recall the
name) runs on 3.7 — it did NOT run under
3.5, nor did several of the programs men-
tioned above.

Multitasking is supposed to be added to
the Emulator at a later date. AND, you
can format to over 720K right now. I've
switched over to Kay Pro DOS and it for-
mats the 3 1/2" disks to 730-i-K and will
run disks formated to 360 by IBM DOS.
(However, you can't run the 730K disks
under IBM DOS).

Everything runs faster under 3.7 than
3.5, but it is still too slow. PC Write is
almost acceptable, The Word is a little
slower but Word Star still drags. Word
processing types seem to be slower than
other software. The hardware accelerator
is going to be a IvlUST.

Yes, I too want to see some software that
will allow reading/writing to DOS from
AmigaDOS. In fact the local dealer would
like to see it too. He's getting tired of me
tying up his demo Amy by copying from
5" to 3" all the time.

Rich M.

Addison-Wesley has released the
preliminary ROM Kernel Manual (a
misnomer, of course, since AmigaDOS is
written into the Writable Control Store
RAM at boot-up). I can't imagine what
the full set will look like; the preliminary
RKM apparently consists of two huge
tomes , each reminiscent of the Toronto
telephone directory. Bruce Webster, has
pronounced that the documentation for
the Amiga may be the best he's ever seen
for any computer; "... well written, well
organized, and amazingly complete , . . " ,
Addison-Wesley's order number is
1-G17-944-8660.

Ultima III and Ultima I'V will soon cast
a spell over the Amiga, as well as

Moebius, Auto Duel, and Orge, all from
Origin Systems... Brattacus, an 'In-
teractive Video' style adventure game
with 'impressive' graphics has been
ported over from the Atari ST. Unfor-
tunately it is copy-protected and takes
over the machine , preventing multitask-
ing, , . Michael Reichmann of BI has an-
nounced, for release between May and
July, the development of a number of pro-
ducts for the Amiga including a "high-end
word processor, spreadsheet, and
graphics package. In addition, there will
be an investment portfolio package and
a professional time and billing program."

E A founder Trip Hawkins has gone on
record saying that the company has more
than recovered its development costs in
its first month of sales of Amiga soft-
ware. Their gamble has also paid off in
four nominations from the American
Software Publishers Association for
Deluxe Paint for Best Creativity Pro-
duct, Best Technical Achievement, Best
User Interface and Best Graphics. Other
Amiga products to receive nominations
were E A's One-on-One (Best Sound) and
Activision's Mindshadow and EA's One-
on-One again(Best Adaptation to a New
Computer Format). I feel quite safe in
predicting that next year Amiga software
publishers will be grabbing a significant
number of the awards as the lengthy
development process reaches fruition.

The following is a report on another
Micro-Systems Software product.
Analyze!, a spreadsheet:

#: 7576 SI /Software

/ 08-Feb-86 22:48:09

Sb: #7542-Analyze

Fm: Rick Rodriguez 74456,3054

To: JIM PRITCHETT 72767,2216

I began using Analyze! last week. It is very
easy to use, although the docs are
somewhat disorganized (like Online!).
Most spreadsheets, like Unicalc will guide
you through a sample session that touches
on most of the commands you'll use.
Analyze! leaves you on your own. I've had
some problems with the program and my
Brother printer. I'm awaiting a reply, but I
suggest you make sure it works properly
with your printer before making a pur-
chase. I also think future versions of the
program will have to offer complete
keyboard control. Once you get into a long
spreadsheet, using the mouse and menus
becomes a real drag <har, har>. Hope
this helpsi

Jason Goldberg reports that BBS-PC,
also from MSS, is really a BBS program-
ming language and is very good. The beta
version of Scribble! appeared to be of the

same high calibre, with a built-in spelling
checker, mail merge, multi-tasking, and
so on. When you include BI's planned pro-
ducts, it seems that quality business soft-
ware is on the way. Jason also reports
receiving version 3.0 of the much-
maligned Maxicomm terminal program,
distributed by EA. He says it has been
considerably improved. An unprotected
copy of the program can be obtained pro-
vided you are willing to have your
Mastercard number included in the pro-
gram's menu.

TDI's Modula-2 compiler is selling for
$149.95 for the developers package,
$89.95 for the regular package. Modula-2
is an enhancement of Pascal (they were
written by the same person) and features
totally independent program modules . . .
Micro APL in England claim to have a
beta version of APL for the Amiga . . .
Thomas Holaday reports that a version
of the ARC archiving utility for MS-DOS
systems is being developed by RSBX (c/o
Lido Hotel Fido) for the Amiga with
assistance from SEABoard, the original
developers . . . Bela Lubkin, sysop of the
Amigaforum, is developing Amigabinary,
a file format that will standardize
transmission protocols, multiple-file
transmissions, squeezing and un-
squeezing, and so on, in a manner similar
to Macbinary . . . William Volk of Aegis
Development says he will be working on
getting 68881 FPP chip support into
Aegis Draw, which should be out when
you read this. He describes Draw as "a
generalized drafting program . . . sort of
a cross between Mac Draft and
AutoCad . . . It has a parts system, allow-
ing you to create/use parts libraries. It is
multi-window and multi-drawing. . . " All
of the Aegis products will use the IFF for-
mat jointly developed by C-A and EA.
Dale Luck of C-A says that vl.2 of
AmigadDOS is entering alpha test in
house and at selected developer sites,
though Randy Weiner, of CBM, says it
is primarily intended to provide support
for the PAL version of the Amiga for the
European market. It may actually be
released in the North America as vl.3,
vrith more fixes and updates. And in case
you're worried, it will also be completely
compatible with all vl.l software...
Steve Ahlstrom reports that the
Calculator in WorkBench will not run
when when a 68010 has been installed. It
seems the Calculator slipped past the
upgrading of Workbench to vl.l . . . Ben
Blish is getting favourable response from
his beta-test sites for PCLO, his com-
pany's printed circuit-board design soft-
ware. He is soliciting feedback for a hob-
byist version of the program.

TPUG Magazine 15

Hardware news

Tecmar says that the FCC has refused to
approve the current design of their hard
drive for the Amiga. However, they say
they will be shipping the new version in
six weeks. Six weeks to re-design , get ap-
proval, and ship? Hmmmm... Micro-
forge, meanwhile, is already selhng its 20
Meg and 40 Meg 3 112" hard -drives,
which have a number of features in com-
mon with the Tecmar machines: noisy
fans (sounds like an F-14 revving up),
speed (roughly seven times faster than
the micro-floppy drive), and software
interface (each comes with a special ver-
sion of Workbench, from which the con-
figuration files can be extracted for your
work disks). Current owners report no
reliability problems. It is unclear whether
the Microforge drives interfere with
multitasking, as one owner was able to
format the drive while using Prefer-
ences. The Tecmar machines definitely
do halt ail Amiga tasks during file
transfers. The support software for the
Microforge drives provides support for a
streaming tape backup system. Up to
four of the machines, including the 60
Meg drives still in development, can be
chained together. Other Microforge pro-
ducts include a 7-slot expansion box, and
2 Meg RAM cards. If you had the bucks
you could give your Amiga 8 Meg of RAM
and 243.25 Meg of disk storage! , . , Com-
spec Communications in Toronto will also
be manufacturing a 2 Meg RAM card for
the Amiga. These will be stackable, and
up to three of them can be attached to a
single-drive Amiga before an external
power supply is needed. Price is still
undecided, but should be somewhere be-
tween $1200 and $1400 Canadian...
Star Point is selling a 256Kcard to install
in the front of the Amiga for $120
(US). . .

Randy Weiner of Amiga Engineering
at CBM is recommending that DSDD
micro-floppies stamped MADE IN USA
be avoided, as tests in their labs indicate
potential problems with the packaging of
these disks . . . The A-Time clock-card will
not work with current versions of the
Emulator. The people at Akron Systems
Development are in discussion with C-A
on this matter. . . C-A will soon be releas-
ing a custom printer-driver maker that
will be available only to dealers at $150
(US). . . Ben Blish is soliciting response
to a product that his company, Soft-
Circuits Inc., would like to market: a
small pcb that plugs into the back of the
computer or your external drive and that
allows you to plug a 40 or 80 track 5 1/4"
drive into it, using the industry standard

cable and a power supply. He estimates
end user cost to be about $50 (US). , .
Hose, the renowned manufacturer of
speaker systems, is selling a compact
stereo amplifier and speaker system in-
tended just for the Amiga; naturally it
can be used with other audio sources. Just
plunk down $299 (US) and it's yours . . .

Richard Rae reports that Cherry Lane,
the developer of a range of music and
MIDI soft/hardware products such as
Harmony, Texture, and Pitchwriter, are
getting out of the Amiga business. It
seems they are arranging to sell the pro-
ducts they developed to E A, C-A will also
be selling MusiCraft and a MIDI inter-
face, perhaps by the time you read this.
Those whose interest in computer
generated music goes back to the days of
the Mountain Hardware Mountain Music
System for the Apple ][ -i- will be excited
to know that Bob Hoover, the designer
of the afore mentioned system, is the
mastermind behind Mimetics, a company
producing a number of musical products
for the Amiga. These include a sound
digitizer for about $100 (US) which , with
the accompanying software, will convert
a digitized sound into an instrument for
MusiCraft or any of the other music pro-
grams. For $150 (US), you can get a se-
quencer program to record and playback
from any MIDI source, or the Amiga's
built-in sound capabilities . . .

The consensus is that the Atari RGB
analog monitor is not only superior to the
1080 in picture quality, at $399 (US), it
is also cheaper. The Amiga computer pro-
vides a much better video signal than the
Atari ST, making the two an ideal com-
bination. You have to kludge a cable
because the Atari monitor uses a non-
standard 13-pin DIN cable. Pete Jordan
posted a pin-to-pin table that worked for
him, though he makes no guarantees for
anyone else.

liga

end

Atari end

Pin name

4

6

green

3

7

red

16

8

ground

11

9

hsync

5

10

blue

12

12

vsyne

17

13

ground

fiiq

a vs

Atari ST

The Jack Tramiel style can still be seen
in the tacky advertising for the Atari ST,
with its non -comparisons and blatant in-
accuracies. I'm surprised that Atari and
JS&A, a high-volume, mail-order enter-
prise selling the 520 ST, have not been

sued for false advertising. Nevertheless,
the debate about the relative merits of
these machines rages on, especially now
that the 1040 ST has been released,
heralding the start of the IK RAM per
consumer dollar era.

Thankfully, CBM is maintaining a class
act in its approach to selling the Amiga.
Indeed, one full page ad in major
newspapers said, "Some people say that
Commodore is staking its entire future on
one machine. Damn right." CBM seems
to be carefully avoiding falling into the
bottomless pit of a price-war, similar to
the one that Atari fell into in the days
when Jack Tramiel would rather fight
than switch. That kind of industrial game
of 'chicken' may have a short-term
benefit to the consumer, but is very
unhealthy for the industry , and ultimately
results in less competition and less choice
for the consumer.

The fact is that the Amiga is a very dif-
ferent machine than the ST, and one with
far more potential. Questions posed to
Atari about its expandability bring only
vague promises. Still, I think Timothy K.
Doherty says it best in his letter to
January issue of INFO: "The Atari [ST]
is a very good computer at a terrific price,
while the Amiga is a terrific computer at
a very good price."

I'll close this month's Dispatches with
a message from Jim Meyer. It sums up
my view of the future of the Amiga.

#: 9087 S8/Community Square
23-Feb-86 11:15:50
Sb: #State of Amiga
Fm: Jim Meyer 75475,456
To: All

... .In My Humble Opinion, the Amiga is
quietly fostering a revolution. Despite the
pronouncements of the media, people are
buying. Every machine sold helps to sell
another, as friends get to see the 'miracle'
of multi-tasking and other goodies. The
steady sales of the C-64 and C-128 give
CBM improved cash flow, and allow Amiga
more breathing room, Sure, things are star-
ting off slowly, Ever roll a tiny snowball
down a tall, snow-covered mountain?

The head of Borland, Mr. Kahn, is
quoted as scoffing at the Amiga, (On Line,
by Lisa Raleigh, Knight-Ridder
Newspapers.) Yet he has an Amiga on his
desk, endlessly running Kaleidescope. The
Amiga revolution has started, led by you
and me and everyone else who bought
one. 'Versatility, expandibility, power, speed
and graphics will ultimately propel our in-
fant into the forefront of computing. Not to
worry!!

- Jim Meyer D

16 Issue 22

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Magazines for Commodore users

by Donald Dalley

After the 1982-84 flurry of new Com-
modore computing magazines sorted
itself out, there were some newcomers,
some old hands, and some diehards
waiting for your attention. Today there
are about a dozen strictly -Commodore
journals and, about a third as many with
me-too sections.

You are witnessing the last growth of
the present 'family' of magazines. From
now on, a new group of publications will
appear to support the next generation of
Commodore computers. The first is
Arniga Wm-id; more will crop up in the
months to come. Some magazines have
changed their content to include the
broader range of computers. The new
hardware will be supported, in varying
degrees, by the journals listed here, or
new ones.

Here then are the magazines that con-
tend for your allegiance, as of December
1985. These reviews are biased — we all
have our favourites — but I have tried to
be fair. The magazines reviewed are
those readily available in Toronto,
although some can be obtained here by
subscription only. Prices are given in
Canadian dollars per issue, or US dollars
per subscription year for Canadian
readers.

Strictly Commodore

Ahoy;: S26.95/12 issues

up, and matter-of-fact reviews. The cover
has an unusual contents-like display of in-
side features. The magazine features a
better than usual display of new products,
with reader service numbers included
with the product for easy reference. The
quality of features by regular editors like
Morton Kevelson and programmers like
Bob Lloret make AHOY! worth a
subscription. One winning program for
me links up to four screens and prints
them out on an MPS-802 or Gemini
printer. A column for new 64 owners,
quality artwork, close-up photos, pro-
gramming contests, cartoons and a help
column fill in between the covers. Some
advertisers otherwise not seen show up
here.

Amiga World: $22.97/6 issues

This is a semitechnical publication, going
into hardware deeper than most. There
is good 'inside' gossip, lots of 'firsts' show

Not to be outdone, Amiga World's
premier issue was produced before the
hardware hit the market. It is rumoured
that Commodore funding played an im-
portant role in the financing of the early
issues. The decidedly uncritical tone of
the articles doesn't dispel my belief in
these whispers. The high level of hype
palls rapidly. The best articles are those
with the most substance, like the infor-
mative review of the 68000 chip in issue
#1. The artwork so far barely scratches
the .^i^'s ability, but is outstanding all
the same. In its present form, Amiga
Worldvfon't be a programmers' publica-
tion, but I'm told this is to change.
Although there are a few goofs — like the
picture of the keyboard with no cursor
down key, and the occasionally slipshod

writing, things wiW get better. Amiga
Wm-ld is reminiscent of the early Macin-
tosh magazines. It's hard to write con-
structively when dealing with esoterics.
Who will be the vital competition?

Commodore Microcomputers: $20/6
issues

After many changes, Commodore's own
magazines have increased in quality to
their present glossy appearance. Basical-
ly an advertising medium for the hard-
ware manufacturer. Commodore
Microcomputers includes lots of ads from
third-party companies as well. Original-
ly meant for educators and techies, CM
now concentrates on the 64 and on
reviews, though it is one of the few
publications still giving token support to
past CBM computers. Showing off what
computers can do is what CM does best
now. Languages are introduced and sup-
ported to varying degrees. Useful utilities
and other programs are usually present,
but not many coups. Although the Com-
modore publications cotdd have the best
of any gossip and inside news, no boats
are rocked.

Commodore Power/Play: $20/6 issues

Cominodore Power/Play is designed to
support both the VIC-20 and the C-64 in
the games/home aspect of 'home' com-
puting. Whereas the previous magazine
is for adults, this one is for the younger
generation. You want games and fun?
You'll get it here. Done seriously, this is
not a bad thing. Power/Play offers sim-
ple programming features, lots of reviews

1 B Issue 22

(you guessed it — games), alternative
language support (mostly LOGO),
Christmas product lists, hardware com-
parisons, a somewhat different set of
advertisers. As is true of several of the
other magazines as well, Power/Play's
published programs are set up to run on
as many Commodore machines as possi-
ble, with trivial changes or none. A listing
entry program helps too. Depending on
your interests, both of Commodore's
publications offer something for so-
meone, although both are a little pricy .

Midnite Software Gazette: S2/issue

Although I've personally run across only

a few issues in my lifetime, Jim Strasma's
MSG is one of the oldest Commodore-only
publications. Devoted mainly to reviews,
information, help, news and other articles
make up the rest. Reviews are brief and
to the point, and likes and dislikes are
made clear. Recent changes include a
switch to two-column format, monthly
issues, smaller content (and price).

..

i The

1 MIDN TE A

f/ SOflHRE

/ GAZETTE

Nw MonlMrl

The Fifs
users of

■DHf

Independenl U.S. Magazine (or
Commodore brand computers^

, .!„■■.,. . « ^. .•.,..■ S2.00 ■

Info: $18/6 issues

"Who's that?", you say? This, bar none,
is my favourite magazine. Innovative,
hard-hitting, opinionated, informative —
the banner says 'useful'; I say 'unusual'!
The magazine is entirely put together
with a Commodore 64 and related equip-
ment, except for paid ads. Theoretically
printed 6 times a year, it seems an eter-
nity between issues. The 'gallery' of game
reviews is in a unique format, with
screens on one page and text opposite.
This is essentially a review publication (no
program listings or how -to-do-its), with
'How well does it work?' opinions.
Although the Info reviewers are not in-
fallible, if they say it's junk, don't waste
your money on that product. Lots of
'firsts' show up here. Three IEEE hard
drives for the C-64, one reviewed, with
cost comparison, were mentioned in #6.

|A PHOaUCT CaUlQE -

l*ar the _CTvtVlC£:-C-=? R4

12

The first real photos of the finished
C-128, the 1572 disk drive (now apparent-
ly shelved), and the C-128D business
model were showcased here. Semi-annual
product issues review lots of C-64, and
now other Commodore, equipment —
hard, soft and otherwise! Another feature
is the series of 'Erg-Cards' — reference
cards for popular commercial software
that fit over the computer keyboard.
Stapled into the centre, each issue of /w-
fo has up to three different cards. Issue
ffl covers CP/M 3.0 and BASIC 7.0, both
for the C-128. Before now, Info dealt on-
ly with the 64. Now that they are bran-
ching out, it is to be hoped they bring the
same level of coverage to the new
machines. A must on everyone's shelf.

The Transactor: $15.00/6 issues

Karl Hildon has made The Transaetcyr
what it is: an inside look at Commodore
computers. Although some articles are
written above the beginner's level, each

f*i th*l»ef^/Nft<»ijo^^ialfmCc>i^rtoa<»*Compul*iT
Mote Progrnnmlng Aids & UNllHn

issue is packed with helpful, logical,
technical, let's not forget humourous,
Commodore insight. 'Bits and Pieces' is
full of the bizarre things people have
found computers are capable of doing.
The 'save with replace' bug has been ex-
posed. Jim Grubbs is back in print with
an article on using computers with short-
wave listening equipment. Each issue as
far away as the summer 1987 has a
preassigned theme. First class writers
and subjects, little advertising, variety,
(and humour). Not to be forgotten is
another TraTisocfor publication, the Com-
modorian 'bible': The Complete Com-
modore Inner Space Anthology. If you
own any Commodore computer, the An-
thology has something you will need.

COMPUTEI'b Gazette: $30/12 issues

Who hasn't noticed the Gazette^. It came
in number one in a recent TPUG reader-
ship survey, and second among the
VIC/64-only releases. Big and powerful,
the Gazette gets lots of good program
writers into circulation. Issue #7 featured

COMPUTE!^

«M|^X%f4 « Far Tta Comnodai*

TPUG Magazine 19

Speedscript, a popular word processor
that has won many adherents even
among those \vith access to full -featured
commercial programs. Issues #17 and #18
introduced one of the first colour ter-
minal/BBS programmes ever (Toronto
had had a colour IBM BBS running
before this). Later issues feature turbo-
loaders for tape and disk, regular
upgrades to Speedscript, and more — all
in all a feature-packed repertoire. Near-
ly every issue features a new extension,
or fix, to BASIC, though the editors
generally ignore the presence of more up-
to-date languages. For instance, unless it
is mentioned by someone of Jim Butter-
field's stature, COMAL (the C-64's most
widely used non-BASIC language) gets
no coverage. Besides useful utilities and
applications, there are interviews, soft-
ware and hardware reviews, the insights
of the d'Ignazto family, questions and
answers, and plenty of columns.

RUN: $22.97/12 issues

Wayne Greene started an empire of
magazines, of which RUN was one. For-
tunately, it survived Greene's retirement.
An excellent selection of writers, from
Louis F. Sander, Colin Thompson, Jim
Strasma and Jim Grubbs, to other lesser-
knowns, provide articles featuring the
only inside photos I've seen of Com-
modore's factory, the 'Magic' series,
utilities, feature programs and editorials.
Listings finally have an error-catching
entry program. There have been
numerous reviews of selected products ,
notably word processors, joysticks and
monitors. A popular feature program is
Datafile, with some up-dates and other
support. There is a large Christmas selec-
tion of products, as in Commodore's
Power/Play magazine. A 'best of issue is
released annually.

Commodore Included

COMPUTE!: $30.00/12 issues

An institution in the Commodore world,
COMPUTE! has grown and shrunk with
the market fluctuations. Using competing
brands of computers to unite readers
under one banner has been this
magazine's route to success. The dif-
ferent brands have their individual col-
umns; otherwise you won't find much
machine-specific information here. Pro-
grams are generally available for most or
all machines, though. The Commodore
family gets the most coverage. There are
more general articles on computing than
in the Gazette. With less advertisers,
there is now less colour and more serializ-
ed articles, as in the Gazette. Content is
still of high quality. Jim Butterfield ap-
pears here regularly, along with timely
new hardware reviews, an explanation of
X-Modem, editorials, features and
tutorials. COMPUTE! has lately been
capitalizing on the Gazette's success with
Speedscript by presenting updates for
the C-64, and versions for other com-
puters as well, and a compatible spread-
sheet is in the works. Alternative
languages were hardly mentioned until
recently, and do not appear in the pro-
gram listings.

Family Computing: $25.97/12 issues

The title says it all. The articles in this
magazine focus on children and parents,
home (including home business), and
school. Nine computer brands are sup-
ported, including the VIC 20 and the
C-64. K-Power Magazine was combined
viith FC to continue supporting teens.
Material includes interviews with people
from professional programmers to Mister
Rogers, along with the usual product
reviews and features, and simple BASIC
program listings. Comparison-style are
popular. Educational advertisers show up
here in force. How to live with a computer
is a popular theme of the writers, in-
cluding the care and feeding of your
cybernetic friend. The content is varied
and informative, but after a meal of
Family Computing, I usually prefer a
plate of The Transactor.

Home Computer Magazine: $36.00/10
issues

Another unusual favourite, "focusing ex-
clusively on * Apple * Commodore * IBM
* Texas Instruments". Where's Atari?
With few exceptions, the programs are
written generically, to run on more than
one computer. The BASIC software and
documentation is very good, with varie-
ty and usefulness. Programs fill about
half the pages. Among those featured

have been Snap-Calc (a spreadsheet in
LOGO!), The Organizer (a thought pro-
cessor), game and educational programs,
but not many utilities or ML programs.
Tutorials, reviews, new products an-
nouncements, rumours and gossip, and
tech-notes on individual computers round
out the presentation. There is some
material on languages other than BASIC,
especially LOGO, and in the past,
Simons' BASIC. The program listings
are in an unusual format, designed to
make entry easier; an entry program is
needed instead. Programs are constant-
ly being updated, sometimes extensive-
ly-

Newspapers and newsletters

Computer Shopper: 52.25 each,
$45.00/12 issues

Ads galore! This is where to shop by mail
for just about anything related to com-
puting (except furniture), though Com-
modore coverage is weak. There are col-
umns for various computer brands by
some of the outstanding pioneers: Stan
Veit (editor), Les Solomon (from Popular
Electronics) and Don Lancaster (an Ap-
ple fan). The Commodore section, led by
Ted Drude, has a parallel printer driver
developing for the VIC and 64. Recent
issues had reviews of 1541 drive alter-
natives, and two 1541 accelerators. A
catalogue of C-128 compatible CP/M soft-
ware, as well as a five-dollar
editor/ assembler were noted. The Amiga
has a home in CS, and the public domain,
open architecture 'Hacker's Mac' is to be
developed before your eyes by Lee
Felsenstein, designer of Osborne
computers.

Input: $5-8 Cdn., $10 US/12 issues, or
free

A fine Canadian Commodore newspaper
from Alberta. It comes in two parts: one
for the west, one for the rest. The Atari
ST is getting some coverage also. Here
you'll find timely, interesting gossip,
hints and advice, and western BBS
numbers. The ads and outlook are Cana-
dian. A real bargain!

Toronto Computes!: $11.00/12 issues,
or free

Toronto's free paper is similar in idea to
Input, but smaller. Here you'll find
Toronto-area BBS numbers, news and
ads. There's no regular Commodore
news, but a fair amount of spot coverage.
Recent articles include a Steve Douglas
(PaperClip) interview, sources of free or
cheap software, a centrespread on robots,
and RCMP comments on pirated soft-
ware (the most costly programs of al!!).D

20 Issue 22

Educational software for C-64

TkefoHotwing list of educational software
is drawn from a very extensive catalogue
compiled by the Etobicoke Board of
Edv£ation, for which we gratefully
acknowledge Gordon McKay and Robert
McNaughton, the computer consultants
for the Etobicoke Board, and Don
Whitewood, a computer consultantfor the
Toronto Board of Education. Please note
that this list contains only commercial
educational software available to the
general puhlic. Teachers are advised to
consult their computer departtnents for
availability of programs from such
sources as the Ontario Educational Soft-
ware Project, and other boards of
edrication.

Alphabet Zoo

Spinnaker
C-64, disk drive

Alphabet Zoo helps students develop let-
ter recognition and spelling skills. Letters
of the alphabet are associated with the pic-
tures and sounds of animals.

Whiz Kids Computer Course

Whiz Kids Educational
C-64, disk drive

The disk contains a series of programs
designed to introduce a student to the C-64.
A manual provides a guide to programm-
ing in BASIC and word processing with
Textmaster. The disk has quizzes and
games.

Hey Diddle Diddle

Spinnaker

C-64, disk drive

Hey Diddle Diddle presents thirty rhymes

with words, pictures and music. Each rhyme
is formed in slow motion. Rhyming game
provides two levels of difficulty as students
play against the clock.

Mastertype

Scarborough System
C-64, disk drive

Mastertype presents typing instruction and
practice in an arcade-type game format.
After each game, the student's score,
average speed in words per minute, number
of words typed and number of mistakes ap-
pear. To improve typing speed and ac-
curacy, Mastertype includes finger position-
ing drills and sentence typing lessons. A
flexible lesson system allows the creation
of custom drills.

Blazing Paddles Illustrator

Baudville Software

C64, disk drive, printer (optional), joystick
Blazing Paddles is an easy to use drawing
program. It allows the use of a touch tablet,

paddles, joystick, trackball or light pen in-
put devices to create drawings, diagrams,
and text. It is easy enough for young
children to use but sophisticated features
are included for the computer artist and pro-
grammer. A graphics dot-matrix printer is
required for creating hard copy.

Bank Street Writer (V.2)

BSC/Scholastic
C-64, disk drive

This word processing program has three
writing modes: write, edit and transfer. The
disk contains a utility program for chang-
ing the text format and a tutorial program
for student instruction.

Story Machine

Spinnaker

C-64

Story Machine (on cartridge) helps children

Icam to write sentences, paragraphs and

simple stories. The stories are created with

nouns, verbs, adjectives and other parts of

sjjeech chosen by student.

Up For Grabs

Spinnaker
C-64

Up For Grabs provides practice with spell-
ing and vocabulary skills. Children visualize
words and arrange them spatially. The pro-
gram (on cartridge) develops decision-
making skills.

Math Maze

Designware

C-64, disk drive

Student practises addition, subtraction,

multiplication and division skills in a spider

game format. Multiple skill levels and the

ability to create individualized mazes add to

the program's interest.

Creature Creator

Design Ware
C-64, disk drive

The student creates creatures from a selec-
tion of heads, bodies, arms and legs. The
concepts of computer programming are
presented at a simple introductory level.

Spellagraph

Designware
C-64, disk drive

Students are challenged to solve rebuses
(word/picture puzzles). Over 400 words are
included in the program and new word lists
can be added. The skill level may be chang-
ed to provide a suitable challenge.

Spellicopter

Designware

C-64, disk drive

Spellicopter is an action spelling game with

400 words in forty lists. A context clue is

given for each word. Points are gained or
lost according to spelling. New word lists
and clues may be added.

Donald Duck's Playground

Sierra On-Line
C64, disk drive

This program presents an amusing way for
children to learn about money. Students
work at four different jobs, earning money
to buy playground equipment. Children are
challenged to recognize and match shapes,
colours, and letters. Logical thinking skills
are exercised in the operation of railway
switches. With their earnings, children may
buy equipment to design and construct a
playground.

The Print Shop

Broderbund

C-64, disk drive, printer
The Print Shop enables the design and pro-
duction of signs, banners, greeting cards,
personal stationery and posters. A selection
of eight different typestyles, three type for-
mats, nine border designs, a graphics editor,
and text editing features are available. A
special 'Screen Magic' function enables the
presentation of kaleidoscopic patterns.

Graphics Library 1 (Print Shop)

Broderbund

C-64, disk drive, printer

The Graphics Library disk 1 expands the

graphic elements capabilities of the Print

Shop program. Disk 1 is a collection of

dozens of new graphics designed by top

computer artists. Themes include sports,

education, zodiac signs, special occasions,

animals, creative patterns and more.

The King's Rule 1229A&B

Sunburst Communications
C-64, disk drive

This program helps students build skills
which are important to scientific reasoning
and math logic and problem-solving skills
in recognizing numerical patterns, and basic
operations. Ten to twenty minutes of com-
puter time is required to solve each level in
the game. Students must form and test
various hypotheses and develop skills in
critical thinking.

Mr. Pixel's Program Paint Set

Mindscape

C-64, disk drive, joystick, printer
With the Programming Paint Set, students
develop computer literacy skills and use the
computer as a creative tool to work with the
elements of programming languages such
as commands, cursor control , and program
listing. Students draw or edit pictures by
choosing commands from a screen menu or
by listing and editing a program.

TPUG Magazine 21

Mr. Pixel's Cartoon Kit

Mind scape

C-64, disk drive, joystick (optional)
As students enjoy altering and creating
cartoons and characters with Mr. Pixel's
Cartoon Kit, they learn to sequence
ideas, analyze the steps needed to com-
plete a complex task, use simple anima-
tion techniques, and implement their solu-
tions within a computer environment. By
choosing from a menu, students can play,
edit, add to or change a cartoon and
players.

The Grammar Examiner

Design Ware
C-64, disk drive

The Grammar Examiner is a newspaper
editing game. Players land on a grammar
square, edit paragraphs, answer multiple-
choice grammar questions and earn salarj'
raises and promotions. Four colourful
gameboards and animated characters are
available but players may design their own
game boards. There are multiple skill levels
of grammar problems and game play can be
varied to maintain a challenge.

Keyboard Cadet

FoHo/Mindscape
C-64, disk drive

Keyboard Cadet enables novice typists to
learn typing fundamentals based on a step
by step course. The program has fifteen
lessons. As a space pilot, the student must
fly a spaceship through a galaxy. Each
lesson introduces new keys and reinforces
previously taught keys. Students move on
to two-letter combinations (digraphs) and to
words, sentences and paragraphs. Program
gives wpm scores.

Treasure Island

Windham Classics

C-64, disk drive

This is a unique adventure game where

you're the hero and it's up to you to find the

secret treasure. You'll meet and talk to

characters and you'll have to decide whether

they are friends or enemies.

Magic Spells

The Learning Company
C-64, disk drive, printer (optional)
This program includes; Scramble Spells
(students unscramble spelling words). Flash
Spells (students recall words by spelling and
entering words correctly), and Spells
Writer (with options to enter a new list of
words, delete a list, set up new data disk
for words, view a list and copy a list to
another disk or printer).

The Game Show

Advanced Ideas,
C64, 1541 drive

Animated partners motivate learning in this
educational game of word clues and target
concepts. Questions start with general
clues, then home in on more specific facts,
encouraging the use of logical thinking and
deductive reasoning. A right answer wins

points and applause. An option allows the
students to create individialized ques-
tion/answer database.

Adjectives

Scholastic

PET/C64, datasette

A brief tutorial on adjectives is displayed.
Students can choose the number of
sentences. As each sentence is displayed,
the student identifies the adjectives. A sum-
mary follows. Data statements can be
changed.

Dragon Mix

DLM Learn Resources

C-64, disk drive

The software and student worksheets

develop skills in recalling the multiplication

tables (0 to 9). The dragon uses correct

answers entered by the student to defend

a city from alien invaders.

Cave of the Word Wizard

Time works Inc.
C-64, disk drive

This adventure game provides spelling prac-
tice at ten skill levels and includes 500
spoken words. There are four game levels.
The scoring system is based on spelling
ability and game skill.

Stickybear Numbers

Xerox Education

C-64, disk drive

Stickybear Numbers is a counting and

number recognition program for primary

children. When a number is pressed, a like

number of objects move about the screen.

The spacebar is used for counting objects.

Muppet Learning Keys

Koala Technologies
C-64, disk drive

A large, easy-to-use keyboard suitable for
young children is attached to the computer.
The software includes three programs:
Discovery Stage, Letters Stage and
Numbers Stage develop math and language
skills.

Letter Go Round

CBS Software
C.64, disk drive

Letter Go Round provides a playful setting
with Sesame Street characters in which
children practice early reading skills. Ac-
tivities involve letter-matching and spelling
on a simplified keyboard.

Argos Expedition

CBS Software
C-64, disk drive

The adventure game simulates a space mis-
sion. The objective is to retrieve specific
space artifacts. Through group -decision
making and problem-solving, members must
decide what is best for the group.

Animal Crackers

Futurehouse

C-64, disk drive, light-pen

Using voice synthesis, the students work in

five different language activities: matching

animal shapes, shape and colour recogni-
tion, alphabet letters, numbers and words.

Success With Math: Decimals: -h & -

CBS Software

C-64, disk drive

One of the Success with Math series, this

program provides remedial assistance, drill

and practice in adding and subtracting

decimal fractions.

Bumble Games

The Learning Company
C-64, disk drive

The program playfully explores basic math
concepts and plotting numbers on a number
line and grid. Six games are Find Bumble,
Find Number, Butterfly Hunt, Visit from
Space, Tic-Tac-Toc and Bumble Dots.

Word Spinner

The Learning Company
C-64, disk drive

This complete-the-word game challenges
the student to discover as many words as
possible by changing a letter in a word. Skill
levels are set by selecting the number of let-
ters and a time limit.

Spell It!

Davidson & Associate

C-64, disk drive

The package includes a program disk and

a data disk. The data includes 1000 of the

most commonly misspelled words grouped

into five levels of difficulty. There are six

different activities.

Peripheral Vision

Futurehouse

C-B4, disk drive, light-pen
Peripheral Vision is a graphics program
which uses the Edumate Light Pen to create
drawings on the screen and printer. A stu-
dent may draw in fifteen different colours
using six brush widths and characters.

Learning With Leeper

Sierra On-Line
C-64, disk drive

The disk contains four games: Dog Count
(drills counting 1-10), Leap Frog (maze
game), Balloon Pop (shape matching) and
Screen Painting (draw/paint a picture).
These are suitable for kindergarten.

Success With Math: Multiplcation
and Division: Decimal

CBS Software

C-64, disk drive

EHsk A provides a tutorial and practice with

multiplication of decimal fractions. Disk B

provides instruction and practice for

dividing numbers with decimal fractions.

Monkey Math

Artworx
C-64, disk drive

Monkey Math's animated graphics provide
an amusing math game and the opportuni-
ty to practice number placement, aJddition,
subtraction, multiplication and division
skills. There are three skill levels.

22 Issue 22

Spelldiver

Scholastic Wizware
C-64, disk drive

This program consists of three hidden word
games. In Gabdoc's Notes Home, students
uncover letters to guess a word. In
PowerSpelling, students explore 2000 com-
monly misspelled words. Do It Yourself
adds new game word fists.

Operation: Frog

Scholastic
C-64, disk drive

The package contains a laboratory simula-
tion tool to be used as a resource in teaching
dissection of a frog. A second option allows
the students to reconstruct a frog. The set
contains an excellent guide.

Wiztype

Sierra On-Line

C-64, disk drive

Wiztypc presents instruction and practice

in keyboarding skills. The cartoon

character, the Wizard of Id, is the central

character in this amusing educational game.

Skill levels may be selected.

Elementary Math Gaines

Plato Educational

C-64, disk drive

Three disks contain fourteen games which

use various math skills including counting,

addition, subtraction, multiplication and

division with whole numbers. The programs

are selected from a menu.

Advanced Elementary Math Games

Plato Educational
C-64, disk drive

These four disks contain fourteen games
which provide for various math skills in-
cluding order of arithmetic operations,
prime numbers and factors, fractions,
decimals and percents, A menu is used to
make the selection.

Algebra Arcade

Wadsworth Electronic

C-64, disk drive

Algebra Arcade, a game for one or two

players, combines careful calculation with

plotting skill. The screen displays the X and

Y axes and players must plot a path to touch

Algebroids and Whirlwinds.

Word Magic 64

Merlan Scientific

C-64, disk drive

This word processor permits easy entry,

modification and formattingof text. Auser-

ftiendly design utilizes on-screen commands

in a menu format and one keystroke

implementation.

Calc Master

Merlan Scientific

C-64, disk drive

Calc Master 64, an electronic spreadsheet,

is a pattern of 20 columns and 30 rows.

Each cell in the grid may contain a label or

value. It is a learning tool for mathematics,

science, and business.

Word Scramble

Hi-Tech

C-64, disk drive, printer
Word Scramble generates anagrams (word
puzzles). The student or teacher types in the
words and the computer scrambles the let-
ters. Print-out includes the puzzle (with or
without clues) and an answer key.

Word Match

Hi-Tech

C-64, disk drive, printer
Word Match allows the teacher or student
to generate matching-type tests, fiU-in-the-
blanks tests, true/false tests and math pro-
blems tests. The computer-generated
materials can be output to a printer.

Big Bird's Funhouse

CBS Software
C-64, disk drive

Big Bird's Funhouse program is a game
of concentration which develops memory
and sequencing skills. Muppet characters
play hide and seek and help Big Bird find
his Sesame Street friends. The package in-
cludes a vinyl keyboard overlay to simplify
keyboard input.

Song Editor

Sequential Circuit
C-64, diskdrive

Song Editor requires the MusicMate
Keyboard. This program permits the stu-
dent to edit songs recorded with Song
Builder. One measure is viewed at a time
and each note can be edited individually.

Bank Street Musicwriter

Mindscape

C-64, disk drive, printer

The Bank Street Musicwriter allows

students to see, hear, write, edit and print

music. A tutorial section is available and a

manual provides instructions. A library of

sample selections is included on the second

side of the disk. The package is similar to

Music Construction Set.

Pic Builder

Weekly Reader Software
C-64, disk drive, printer
Pic Builder enables students to create col-
our pictures with blocks or sections of pic-
tures. These are placed side by side , above,
below or diagonally beside other blocks.
Transportation, animals, space, and
buildings are some of the themes included
in the graphics library.

MIMI for creative writing

Logidisque Inc.
C-64, disk drive

MIMI is an interactive program which can
be used with students to create and animate
a story. After the computer activity , the stu-
dent may express the story using oral
and/or written French/English language.

Mark Book Vol. 2

Saga Software (Adams)
C-64, disk drive, printer

Mark Book simulates a teacher's daily
record book. Term files correspond to dai-
ly test records, quizzes and assignments.
Report file keeps a record of term marks,
exam marks, and report marks.

Imagination

Saga Software (Adams)
C-64, disk drive

Imagination enables the student to create
and save motion pictures. The master disk
contains seven pre-drawn screens and a
catalogue of over 350 pre-drawn sprites.
Original sprites and screens can be created
and used in the animation program.

Stickybear: Opposites

Weekly Reader Family Software
C-64, disk drive

Students learn to use antonyms: up/down,
stop/go, tall/short, full/empty, in front
of/behind and more. Each pair of opposites
features animation, colour and sounds.

Animation Station

Suncom

C-64, disk drive, printer
This graphics tablet and software package
allows the student to create drawings,
graphs, maps, and diagrams using a menu
selection. The graphic designs may be labell-
ed with text, saved and printed.
Computer Crayons
Puturehouse

C-64, disk drive, light -pen
The light-pen is used to colour pictures
representing the letters of the alphabet.
Sound and animation add interest and
stress word and letter recognition.

Bedtime Stories

Futurehouse

C-64, disk drive, light-pen

The 'Little Red Riding Hood' story is

animated while a frog narrates the story

and game (using voice synthesizer). Student

activities include word/letter games.

Alphabet Construction Set

Futurehouse

C-64, disk drive, light-pen

Robo, the alphabet builder, instructs

students how to use the light-pen to draw

the capital letters of the alphabet. After

each level, Robo builds a picture part.

Techsketch Light Pen

Tech Sketch
C-64, disk drive

The light-pen and computer graphics soft-
ware may be used to create drawings on the
colour monitor. Also included in the soft-
ware is a tic-tae-toe game and music com-
position program.

Sea Horse Hide'n Seek
CBS Software

C-64, disk drive.

Children practice matching colours and
shapes by helping to camouflage and pro-
tect sea horses. Spatial and size relationship
skills are practised. Hide Guide explains
how animals are camouflaged.

TPUG Magazine 23

Ducks AhoyI

CBS Software
C-64, disk drive

Players guide canal barges using a joystick
to catch ducks and avoid hippos. The game
helps develop fine motor coordination, coun-
ting skills and problem-solving skills
(through the formulation of predictions).

Chatterbee

Tronix

C-64, disk drive

Chatterbee utilizes a voice synthesizer to

dictate words in a spelling bee game. Spell-

ing skill levels increase in difficulty as the
game progresses.

In Search of the Most Amazing Thing

Spinnaker

C-64, disk drive

This adventure game will sharpen student's

reading skills and ability to estimate

distance, direction and time. Economic and

monetary problems must be solved as the

student progresses in the adventure.

Trains

Spinnaker

C-64, disk drive

Trains teaches many business principles. A
railroad owner must decide how to schedule
deliveries nd make enough money to meet
payroll requirements. There are eight levels
of difficulty.

The Game Show

Advanced Ideas

C-64, disk drive

The Game Show provides opportunities to
increase vocabulary and general knowledge
related to a wide variety of topics including
biology, famous cities, nursery rhymes and
fifteen other subject areas.

by Efraim Half on

As a proud father of two young girls, I
have always been interested in children's
software, especially if it was both educa-
tional and fun to play. After four years
of collecting games and educational pro-
grams for my kids, I have realized that,
in general, children up to 12 years old like
slow-paced programs where thinking is
required, rather than the faster-paced
shoot'em-up games preferred by
teenagers.

In this article I review what I think are
some of the best children's programs for
the Commodore 64 and 128. AJl of this
software has been tested by lots of
children (and parents too), none of whom
has ever become bored with the programs
presented in this review. This review is
limited by the number of programs I have
had access to. I have left out a number
of programs I found interesting but not
worth buying. Consequently, all of the
reviews are good; the bad ones are not
here.

A note — a large number of programs
I own were developed by Spinnaker, and
a few by the Learning Company. I did not
try to cover the public domain Com-
modore Educational Software, These pro-
grams, contained on over 50 disks, are
available from the TPUG library.

Here are some programs I consider the
best:

Face Maker: probably the most successful
game ever produced for children. The pur-
pose of the game is to add features to a face:
eyes, noses, mouth, ears and hair. The pro-
gram is very easy to use, since only two keys
are needed: the return key and the space
bar. This simplicity opens a world of fan-
tasy, since a large number of combinations
are possible and expressions are almost
limitless. I have seen children play this game

Software For

for hours on end . Certainly a very successful
Spinnaker. Another game that introduces
children to the computer keyboard is Kids
On Keys; yet another is Logic Levels.

Neither are special: pleasurable but not
worth the $29.00 (Cdn) selling price.

Pizza: a public domain game available from
TPUG. Here a child has to identify X and
Y coordinates to deliver a pizza to a given
location. The game is very elementary, but
it provides an excellent introduction to
analytical geometry and x-y cartesian
spaces. Despite its simplicity, children have
played this game over and over again. Most
suitable for children 7 and under.

Baby Care is another pubhc domain pro-
gram. This one is suitable for children 9 and
over, simply because of the fast reaction
times required to play the game. Never-
theless, younger children seem to enjoy wat-
ching others play the game. The object is
to feed a baby and keep it dry and clean
without having the mother, or the player,
go crazy. The game is instructive for older
brothers and sisters, making them realize
the difficulty of caring for a young baby. It
is also pleasurable for seasoned parents to
remember diaper days long gone. The
graphics are elementary, but the game is
fascinating,

Viduzzles: This one is a game from Com-
modore. The purpose is to reconstruct a pic-
ture puzzle of a clown , a dog or an owl . The
picture is split into 25 or 50 random pieces
in a five by five matrix, and the child must
reconstruct it. A good introduction to
spatial relationsWps. The program is easy
to use with a joystick. It is suitable for
children 5 and older.

Rocky's Boots: A program for children 7
and up from The Learning Company. This
is one of the best introductions I have seen
to cybernetics and boolean logic. The pur-
pose of the game is first to learn the mean-
ing of and and or gates, and second to build
a cybernetic machine, able to sense the
world around it and act in accordance with

predetermined instructions. The machine
has sensors to detect the shape of a metal
piece and its colour. The child must build
a machine that identifies a piece given in-
formation from its sensors. For example:
find a piece that is round and blue, or a piece
that is any color but blue with a triangular
or square shape. The combinations are
almost infinite.

Factory: Another great program from Sun-
burst Communications. The purpose of this
program is to shape a piece of metal accor-
ding to a blueprint. TTiree basic machines
are available in the factory: one punches one
to three holes, square or round; another
engraves a line of different thickness; yet
another rotates the metal piece 45, 90, 135
or 180 degrees. Up to eight machines can
be put in an assembly line to create easy or
difficult patterns.

Rock 'n Bolt: An Acti vision game, this one
develops spatial relationships. Several
domino pieces move back and forth on the
screen, and the player has to nail them down
to copy a predetermined pattern. The pro-
blem is that since the pieces move, a cer-
tain strategy must be followed to catch the
pieces in the right position. The player
jumps from piece to piece and nails them
down when necessary. As the player ad-
vances to higher levels, the patterns can on-
ly be duplicated by moving horizontally to
other screens. Thus the player must keep
in mind the position of all dominos as he
moves from screen to screen. The software
is difficult to describe, but very interesting
to play and quite challenging. One of the
best.

Doodle: This great graphics program , which
can be operated from either a joystick or the
keyboard, opens up a fantasy world for
children by letting them create drawings,
then colour them in 16 living colours. For
some applications, such as drawing ovals,
it is even better than the famous KoalaPad.
Detail can be added using zoom mode and
geometric figures; boxes and circles are

24 Issue 22

How to Operate a C-64

Fliptrack Learning
C-64, datasette

A data cassette and two audio cassettes in-
struct the student how to operate a Ckim-
modore 64 computer. Note that a data tape
recorder and an audio tape recorder is re-
quired for these lessons.

Exploring C-64 LOGO

Sunburst Communications
C-64, disk drive

This package of software and manual is in-
tended to supplement the LOGO program

produced by Commodore. The LOGO ac-
tivities and demonstrations cannot be used
without loading LOGO first.

Getting Ready to Read and Add

Sunburst Communications
C-64, 1541 drive

The package contains six interesting game
activities for young children, including:
Beam Up — shape recognition and visual
discrimination; Alphasaurus — recognition
of lower-case letters; ABC-> — recognition
of upper-case letters; Letter Getter —
association of upper- and lower-case letters;

Moon Math — beginning numbers; and
Number Chick — counLing skills.

The Incredible Laboratory

Sunburst Communications

C-64, disk drive

The Incredible Laboratory program is

designed to teach children strategies for
problem-solving. It places each student in
the role of a chemist creating monsters in
a laboratory. By selecting from a list of
chemicals, a monster is created with
features such as a green head, cowboy
boots, or a scaly body.

[ids: A Survey

easily drawn. Doodle and KoalaPad com-
plement each other, and are suitable for
children 5 and up. The package includes
preprogrammed pictures that the child can
modify'.

Dream House: An everlasting favourite
from Joyce Hackanson Associates Inc. Here
the purpose is to decorate and paint a series
of houses: a Colonial farmhouse, a Manhat-
tan penthouse, a hideaway cottage, or a San
Francisco Victorian townhouse. Each house
has a large selection of rooms, and each can
be decorated according to the child's tastes.
Furniture is available for bedrooms, living-
rooms and kitchens. A number of pets can
also live in these houses along with the
parents and kids. A small workshop allows
a child to create patterns not present in the
menu. The pictures can also be animated:
the dog barks, the fireplace roars, the bird
chirps, the water flows, the piano plays, the
computer displays a word processing pro-
gram, and so on. As in other graphic pro-
grams, the houses can be saved for con-
tinuous improvement. The outside landscap-
ing can also be changed. The only problem
I found is that the frequent loading of sub-
programs takes so long that some children
might lose interest

English Programs

Rhymes and Riddles: This is another ex-
cellent product by Spinnaker. The emphasis
is on spelling using familiar rhymes and
songs. Great for learning spelling.

Text Analysis: A public domain program
used to analyze the grade level of a child
essay. A child types in his essay and the pro-
gram uses two different methods to assess
at which grade level the child is writing.
Great for parents and for teachers alike to
give an independent assessment.

Math Games

The Playful Professor: Emphasis is on
learning arithmetic through testing on sim-
ple problems. Graphics are excellent, and

the reward for answering questions correct-
ly is the oportunity to catch a ghost in a
haunted house.

Kindercomp: A Spinnaker offering, this
game is very good for the younger crowd;
6 and under.

Algebra Dragons: This is an adventure
game that tests math skills. To advance in
the game, correct answers must be provid-
ed to questions asked. This one is for
children 12 and over.

Typing Tutor And Word Invaders: A touch

typing program suitable for children 9 and
up. If children can ptay piano they can also
learn to touch type early in their life. The
program teaches one tine at a time, and
after every ten exercises an exam is given.
If the child does not pass, exercises are
repeated until a satisfactory mark is reach-
ed and the child is promoted to the next
level. The advantage is that the computer
is very patient while the child paces
him/herself. Word Invaders is part of the
same package and is a good practice
program .

Fax and Trivia Fever: Two trivial pursuit
games, from Epyx and Professional Soft-
ware respectively. Fax is the better
package. Children seem to like its format
better, and appreciate the option of having
the answers provided. Several classes of
questions are available: history, geography,
science and math. Suitable for children 7
and up, possibly led by a 9 or 10 year old
child who can read well.

Music programs: A child does not need the
sophistication of complex music programs
such as the Kawasaki Synthesizer; public
domain programs such as Organ, Piano and
Music Master provide hours of pleasurable
music. Commercial programs such as Music
Machine by Commodore are also pleasant,
since they show notes on the screen as keys
are pressed. My children like Piano best,
since they can play music on the keyboard
at their own speed, save the notes, play

them back and even save them to disk.
Throughout, the screen displays two hands
playing on the keyboard.

Astronomy Programs: Three programs
come to mind, Benji's Space Rescue, Solar
System and Sky Travel. The first two were
developed for children. They show the solar
system and give information about each
planet. The last one is a professional
package and has been previously reviewed
in TPUG Magaziiie. All of these astronomy
programs are good but they need to be run
with adult supervision; they would be too
difficult for the average 8-12 year old.

Mystery: I have not seen many programs
in this area for children, but one of the best
is surely Snooper Troops. The child is an
investigator, and has to find the murderer
by visiting appropriate houses, making
telephone calls and asking the right ques-
tions. The whole game may take several
hours in separate sessions, and the child has
to learn to take accurate notes and consult
them. The game is very good for those eight
and up. Another successful game from
Spinnaker.

I hope these reviews will help parents in-
terested in purchasing programs suitable
for their young children. In general, I
have avoided tutorial or drill programs in
favour of programs that let children use
the computer to learn logical concepts
and visualize spatial relations. Most of the
programs mentioned are commercial
packages that can be purchased or
ordered at any store; some are public do-
main programs that may not be available
everywhere. If requested, I will mail a
copy of the public domain programs for
a nominal service charge of $8.00, in-
cluding a floppy disk and mailing
expenses.

Write to: Efraim Halfon, 543 Limerick
Road, Burlington, Ontario, Canada L7L
2K5. □

TPUG Magazine 25

Word Attack

Davidson & Associates

C-64, disk drive

The program contains 675 words with

sentences illustrating usage. There are nine

skill levels. Included is an editor for adding

individualized word lists. Word Attack is

designed to improve vocabulary skills.

Bigbird's Special Delivery

CBS Software
C-64, disk drive

In the Same Game, the learner makes ex-
act picture matches. In Find the Right
Kind, the student looks at a picture and
matches it according to its category. Tliere
are 2 skill levels for each game.

Ernie's Magic Shapes

CBS Software

C-64, disk drive

Ernie's Magic Shapes provides visual

discrimination practice for pre-schoolers.

Ernie points out the mistakes and his magic

rabbit provides positive reinforcement when

the matching answer is correct.

Success With Math: Multiplying and
Dividing Fractions

CBS Software
C-64, disk drive

Success With Math builds skills in multiply-
ing and dividing common fractions. A
tutorial section teaches the sequence of
operations and a practice section provides
drill and reinforcement.

Music Construction Set

Electronic Arts
C-64, disk drive, joystick
Music Construction Set provides the op-
portunity for the student to create and
listen to computer music. The elements of
music, represented by icons on the screen,
can be moved to a staff to create music.

Crypto Cube

Designware

C-64, disk drive

Crypto Cube is a word puzzle game with

fifty puzzle.s available on four sides of a

cube. A word-puzzle generator uses words

entered by the student. The program

develops spelling and vocabulary skills.

Spellakazam

Designware

C-64, disk drive

In this spelling game, the student races

against a magician to release hidden

animals. The spelling vocabulary levels

range from grade two to grade eight. Skill

levels adjust automatically.

M-ss-ng L-nks: Young People's
Literature

Sunburst Communications

C-64, disk drive

Short reading passages are related to

children's classical stories. The student or

teacher can delete letters and words from

the passages. Students reconstruct the

original passages by filling in the missing

letters or words (similar to a cloze test). The
activity aids in developing skills related to
reading comprehension, writing styles,
punctuation, and spelling.

Robbers of the Lost Tomb

Timeworks
C-64, disk drive

This adventure game simulates the work of
an archeologist attempting to recover lost
treasures from a one hundred-room Egyp-
tian tomb.

Square Pairs

Scholastic Wizware
C-64, disk drive

Square Pairs presents matching games
which help to develop memory and concen-
tration powers. A few computer program-
ming concepts are introduced. Gamemaker
allows students to create their own games.

Print Shop Library

Broderbund

C-64, disk drive

This is the new graphics disk to go with the

Print Shop program. It has new graphics

in the categories of Jobs, Hobbies, Music,
Health, People, Places, and more.

Snooper Troops: Case One

Spinnaker
C-64, disk drive

The Granite Point Ghost is an interactive
mystery game. Players are private detec-
tives trying to discover clues which will in-
dicate a motive for the crime and lead to the
solution of the mystery.

Snooper Troops: Case Two

Spinnaker

C-64, disk drive

In The Case of the Disappearing Dolphin

players must use clues to solve a mystery.

Fraction Fever

Spinnaker
C-64, cartridge

Fraction Fever (on cartridge) develops an
understanding of the parts of fractions and
the relationships between different frac-
tions. Concepts of numerical and visual
representations are presented.

Koala Pad Touch Tablet

Koala Technologies

C-64, disk drive

This graphics tablet is supplied with the

Koalapaint software. With this software

and the Koala Pad, the student may create

high resolution drawings which may be

manipulated, saved and printed.

The Seven Cities of Gold

Electronic Arts
C-64, disk drive, joystick
This is a simulation game of discovery, ex-
ploration, and conquest in the late 15th Cen-
tury. In the simulation, students set sail
from Spain after outfitting their expedition.
The object of the game is to obtain gold and
maps of new territories. After crossing the
ocean, students can choose to explore

rivers, meet Aztec and Inca natives and
solve problems faced by the conquistadors.

Trap-a-Zoid

Designware
C-64, disk drive

This program presents geometric concepts
in a game format. Squares, triangles, and
other polygon shapes are introduced. Multi-
ple skill levels provide increasing challenges
for students.

Paint Magic

Datamost
C-64, disk drive

This graphics/computer art software
presents opportunities to create , save and
display original art designs and drawings.
The artist uses a joystick to draw, fill, or
colour the computer art.

Alien Addition

DLM Arcademic Skills
C-64, disk drive

This arcade-type math game develops ad-
dition skills using numbers from 0-9. The
skill levels can be adjusted for run time, con-
tent, and level of difficulty. Program ac-
cepts joystick or keyboard input.

Alligator Mix

DLM Arcademic Skills

C-64, disk drive

In this math activity, the object is to feed

apples to alligators. The game provides

practice with addition and subtraction skills,

A teacher menu permits options for skill

levels, speed, and time.

Demolition Division

DLM Arcademic Skills
C-64, disk drive

Demolition Division presents practice with
short division skills as tanks advance toward
cannons. All the divisors are between and
9. A teacher menu provide skill level, speed
and time options.

Meteor Multiplication

DLM Arcademic Skills

C-64, disk drive

Meteor Multiplication helps build speed

and accuracy with multiplication facts. The

multiplication skill levels in the game can

be changed to provide increasing challenge

as students' skills improve.

Minus Mission

DLM Arcademic Skills
C-64, disk drive

Minus Mission helps build speed and ac-
curacy with subtraction facts. Skill levels,
game run time, and the question content
may be altered to provide individualized
challenges for the students.

Edumate Light-Pen

Futurehouse

C-64, disk drive

The light-pen plugs into game port #1. The

student is able to interact with the computer

by pointing the pen to the screen . The disk

contains an art program, a tic-tac-toe game

and computer music.

26 Issue 22

M"8B-ng L-nks: Microencylopedia

Sunburst Communications
C-64, disk drive

Short reading passages are related to en-
cyclopedia subjects and are of interest to
children. Student or teacher can delete let-
ters and words from the passages. Students
reconstruct the original passage by filling
in the missing letters or words (similar to
a cloze test). The activity aids in develop-
ing skills related to reading comprehension,
writing styles, punctuation, and spelling.

Fay: That Math Woman

Didatech
C-64, disk drive

The program is designed to be used with
math lessons taught in the primary
classroom. Students improve their addition,
subtraction, multiplication and division
skills by solving simple arithmetic equa-
tions. The largest number used in the pro-
gram is 19. Students must be able to
recognise numbers up to 99 and have a
working knowledge of number lines.

Reader Rabbit

The Learning Company
C-64, disk drive, colour monitor
Reader Rabbit provides children with an
interesting way to develop important
reading skills and increase their vocabularj'.
Using over 200 three-letter words, each of
the three games builds on skills from the
previous game. The fourth game provides
a review of the skills. Children learn to
recognise patterns with vowel -consonant -
vowel combinations and use logic and visual
discrimination to achieve this.
Crossword Ma^c
Alert/Mindscape

C-64, 1541 drive, graphics printer
With Crossword Magic, students and
teachers can, with speed and ease, create
and play original crossword puzzles. Words
and clues are entered and edited. The
puzzles may printed on a dot matrix
graphics printer.

Fraction Factory

Springboard
C-64, disk drive

Fraction Factory provides multiple skill
level games which help students develop
skill with common fractions. Fractions are
represented in graphic and equation form.
Fractions concepts include addition, sub-
traction, and multiplication of fractions,
multiplication of a fraction by a whole
number, and finding equivalent fractions.
Students progress at their own rate. A
useful manual is included.

Piece of Cake Math

Springboard
C-64, disk drive

The program contains five games design-
ed to develop speed and accuracy in recall-
ing arithmetic facts: The Bakery — addi-
tion and subtraction word problems;
Multicake — multiplication word problems;
Dividacake — division word problems;

Flashcards -- skills with the four basic
operations; and Catchacake — drills addi-
tion, subtraction, multiplication, and divi-
sion facts.
Rails West!
Strategic Simulations
C-64, disk drive

This is a game of railroad financing circa
the 19th century. It has four levels of dif-
ficulty. The game manual includes historical
background, winning strategies and a
business terms glossary. The goal of this
game is to have the most money and to con-
trol most of the railway at the end. You may
print hard copies of reports if preferred; you
may save a game in progress for play later.
Mr. Readwell
Micrograms
C-64, disk drive

The Mr. Readwell program presents
several reading selections and correspon-
ding reading comprehension questions. The
student can choose a reading speed skill
level (1-5). The student has an opportunity
to re-read the selection before questions are
presented. The computer keeps track of stu-
dent errors and letting the child re-read the
selection before proceeding with the
questions.

Sequencing Sam

Micrograms
C-64, disk drive

Sequencing Sam contains several reading
selections and corresponding sequencing ex-
ercises. The student chooses a reading
speed skill level (1-5). The student has the
opportunity to re-read the selection before
questions are presented. The computer
keeps track of student errors and requires
the child to re-read the selection before pro-
ceeding with the sequencing exercises.

Animal Stories I

Micrograms
C-64, disk drive

Animal Stories I contains twelve one-page
stories for the remedial reader. The child
may control the reading speed and has an
opportunity to re-read the story before
answering questions designed to build
reading skills. Skills are related to literal
and interpretive comprehension, sequenc-
ing and recognizing the main idea.

Tonk in the Land of Buddy-Bots

Mindscape

C-64, disk drive, colour monitor, joystick
(optional)

In this adventure-learning program,
students pilot the character, Tonk, through
Buddy-Bot land in search of parts of a
friend. Students help Tonk win parts by suc-
cessfully discovering and completing five
different learning games. The activities
reinforce skills such as visual discrimination,
critical thinking, and map reading. Each ac-
tivity has four different skill levels.

Kids At Work

Scholastic
C-64, disk drive

Students may construct rural and urban
scenes by selecting buildings, scenery,
animals and people shapes. The pictures
may be saved on disk or printed as hard-
copy. The program sharpens spatial
awareness, encourages creative thinking,
and introduces students to computer
graphics.

Show Director

Mindscape

C-64, disk drive, joystick (optional)
With Show Director, students can sharpen
language skills while exercising their im-
aginations to build theatrical presentations.
Shows are created by using a simple word
processor to write a script and by combin-
ing predefined characters, music, and sound
effects to accompany the script. Using a
joystick or the keyboard, children may pro-
gram selected characters.

Bank Street Story Book

Mindscape

C-64. disk drive, graphics printer, joystick
With this program, the student can use the
computer to create, print, and read il-
lustrated stories. Pictures may be drawn on
the screen using a joystick. A built-in word
processor can be used to place words or text
anywhere on the screen, the drawings can
be animated and coloured with ten colour
mixtures. The two-sided disk contains
demonstration and tutorial files.

Story Tree

Scholastic

C-64, 1541 drive, printer (optional)
This is a program for writing and reading
interactive stories. An interactive story
allows the reader to make choices about the
way the story unfolds. There are four main
activities: reading stories, writing and
editing stories, printing stories or working
with story disks. Each activity is menu-
driven. A comprehensive teacher guide is
included with the story disk and the master
disk.

Phi Beta Filer

Scarborough Systems
C-64, 1541 drive, printer (optional)
This database program allows children to
organize lists and use that information on
any topic of interest. It stores, organizes,
sorts, displays, tallies, and prints informa-
tion. A unique quiz-master mode develops
games and exams. A second data disk pro-
vides ready-to-use forms and quizzes.

Winnie the Pooh: 100 Acre Wood

Sierra On-Line
C-64, disk drive

Winnie the Pooh in the Hundred Acre
Wood helps students develop map skills,
reading skills and logicEil thinking sldlls
through an adventure game/reading activi-
ty. All the residents of Hundred Acre Wood
are waiting for someone to return their
missing belongings. The students play
diiferent games to find different groups of
ten objects which belong to specific
characters.

TPUG Magazine 27

Sum Ducks

Spinnaker
C-64, disk drive

Sum Ducks combines colourful, animated
graphics and sound with mathematics to
develop arithmetic skills for young children.
Jenny and her animal fi-iends play a game
by a pool and toss rings around the necks
of ducks swimming by. Each duck is mai'k-
ed with a number. Beginners jjiay select ad-
dition or subtraction ganiot, while an ad-
vanced student may select multiplication or
factoring processes.

Stickybear Shapes

Weekly Reader Family Software
C-64. disk drive

Students using Stickybear Shapes iearn to
identify five common shapes: circle, square,
triangle, rectangle , and diamond. The pro-
gram presents colourful, animated graphics
and lively music in three different learning
activities: Pick It — identify the missing
shape in each picture; Name It — students
match shapes with names of the shapes;
Find It — match shapes hidden in the
pictures.

Kermit's Electronic Storymakcr

Simon & Schuster
C-64, disk drive, joystick

Kermit's Electronic Storj-maker invites
students to read by showing correspondence
between words and pictures (meanings).
Students place pictures on the screen with
a joystick. The sentences and words are il-
lustrated, animated, and accompanied by
music. The program will permit the crea-
tion of many different seiitence combina-
tions. Stories can be saved to a data disk.
A dictionary/guide is included.

Wall Street

Timeworks
C-64, disk drive

This program simulates investment and
speculation with stocks, real estate,
precious metals, and high-risk ventures.
Up to four students can participate in a
given simulation.

Challenge Math

Sunburst Communications
C-64, disk drive

Challenge Math is a series of three pro-
grams designed to provide drill and prac-
tice in the basic arithmetic operations. The
programs are Alien Intruder,
Digitosaurus and Math Mission.

The Pond

Sunburst Communications
C-64, disk drive

A frog, lost in a pond of Hly pads, helps
students recognise and describe patterns,
generalise from raw data and think logical-
ly. A practice option allows the child to
develop skills before playing the game.

Survival Math

Sunburst Communications
C-64, disk drive

Survival Math contains four programs
which simulate real-life situations. The pro-
grams are: Travel Agent Contest, Smart
Shopper Marathon, Hot Dog Stand and
Foreman's Assistant,

The Halley Project

Mindscape

C-64, disk drive

To play this game you need to use your

knowledge of the Solar System to locate

planets and moons. Comes equipped with a

tape detailing your mission before you begin

to explore the Solar System.

Stickybear: Reading

Optimum Resource

C-64, disk drive

This program is used to build up vocabulary

and reading comprehension skills with three

fun activities. It has a Match The Words

game, Find Tlie Word, and a Build A

Sentence game.

Arith-Magic

Quality Educational Designs

C-64, disk drive

The object of this game is to find four

numbers that will reduce to zero in as many

moves as are specified. This game gives the

user subtraction practice in a game

situation.

Typing Tutor III

Kriya Systems
C-64, disk drive

This is a quick and easy to learn typing in-
struction program that lets you learn at
your own pace. This program analyzes the
results of each lesson and practice test, then
posts your speed. This program also has a
game called Letter Invaders which sharpens
your speed skills.

Print Master

Unison World
C-64, disk drive

This is a graphics program with over 100
borders and styles to choose from. You can
print your own cards, signs, invitations, sta-
tionary, banners, and calendars.

LOGO Robot

Scholastic
C-64, disk drive

This is a computer programming language
designed especially for kids. By using
LOGO-like commands you can make the
LOGO Robot draw pictures or go through
mazes. LOGO Robot teaches programming,
problem-solving, computer literacy, and art
and design skills.

Body Man I

Nanosec

C-64, disk drive

This is a textbook graphics program that ex-

plores the unknown and inner workings of
the human body. It has fifty multi-color
hires screens on multiple disks which makes
this a surgical adventuure. You may use a
pointer for a specific location to get an ex-
planation while seeing the organ. It has
multiple choice quizzes for you to test your
knowledge about the human body.

The Music Shop

Broderbund

C-64, disk drive

This program lets you write, edit, play and

print original musical compositions. It

displays music one page at a time, produces

standard sheet music and has all necessary

musical features.

Tiger's Tales

Sunburst Communications
C-64, disk drive

This is a reading adventure with a collec-
tion of five stories about a cat named Tiger .
Written for beginning readers, the reader
has to make decisions to maintain the story
flow.

Alice in Wonderland

Windham Classics
C-64, disk drive

This is a unique adventure game putting the
player in the role of Alice. You take a
journey through Wonderland and meet its
inhabitants, deciding how to talk to them.
The inhabitants can help you if you are kind
to them and know what to ask.

Below the Root

Windham Classics
C-64, disk drive

This is a unique adventure game that
challenges you to find the secret of 'Green-
Sky'. You'll probe through mazes of
mysterious tunnels and talk to the in-
habitants, who's advice will help.

Delta Drawing

Spiimaker

C-64

Create pictures using single key commands

to control the Delta cursor. Delta Drawing

is similar to LOGO and may be used to draw
simple or complex designs. These may be
saved on disk or printed.

MacMusic

Passport Designs

C-64, disk drive

This is a piece of musical software that lets

the user explore their musical ideas. It has

a main menu where you can choose to edit,

compose, listen to songs, and so on.

Getting Ready to Read and Add

Sunburst Communications
C-64, disk drive

Getting Ready to Read and Add is a pro-
gram that contains six computer programs
designed to give children practice in
discriminating shapes, upper- and lower-
case alphabet letters, and numerals, D

28 Issue 22

Speedy Simons' BASIC

by Phil Kemp

Since the Commodore 64 became
popular, several magazine articles have
discussed the limitations of the built-in
BASIC interpreter. Others have dealt
with how to make 'standard' BASIC pro-
grams run quickly. Many of BASIC'S
limitations can be overcome by the use of
Simons' BASIC, which adds lots of
useful features to the language. But how
fast do Simons' BASIC programs run,
and how can we get the best speeds?

First, a general observation. This world
provides few free lunches. Simons'
BASIC appropriates some memory (8K
bytes of RAM) otherwise available to us.
Also, we have more valid keywords (EX-
EC, CALL, PLACE, for example). WTien
we run a program , there is extra code to
check for the extra keywords (actually,
for the 'tokens' representing them). If the
new keywords are not found, the stan-
dard BASIC ROM code is used. There is
some extra processing here, hence any
standard BASIC program wll run slight-
ly (a percentage point or two) slower
when Simons' BASIC is active in the
computer. So much for 'standard'
programs.

But what if we use the new keywords?
Here we find a mixed bag of news, most-
ly good. We have new functions; many
statements can be shortened . For exam-
ple, A = MOD(X,Y) can replace the stan-
dard A = X-Y* INT(X/Y). To check for one
character string in another,
I = PLACE(AS,B$) replaces at least two
lines of standard code. The simple
HRDCPY, to print a low-resolution screen
image, saves even more. So there is plen-
ty of opportimity to write shorter, faster-
running programs.

Usually, there is another important
benefit — our programs become more
readable. Another important means of
making readable programs is provided by
the so-called 'structured programming'
keywords. Using CALL and EXEC
(equivalent to GOTO and GOSUB) we can
write programs that have no references
to line numbers. This is mentioned in the
manual, but not well demonstrated. From
the point of view of making our programs
more readable, this is good news; certain-
ly EXEC READ RECORD is easier to
understand than GOSUB 500.

But what about execution speed? In the
past, much has been UTitten about GOTO
and GOSUB. We know that, to get fast
execution, we must place a frequently-
used routine either near the start of the
program or a little after the GOSUB call.
A little experimentation shows that the
rules for placing PROCs (routines invok-
ed by EXEC or CALL statements) are
similar. It turns out that when we use EX-
EC procname a search is done to find the
target PROC procname, always from
the start of the program. So, often-used
PROCs must be near the program start.

. . .there is plenty of

opportunity to write

shorter, faster-running

programs . . .

The consequences of ignoring this rule
are severe. When we use GOSUB 1111,
each line is checked to see if its two-byte
line number field contains the hex-
adecimal representation of the number
'llir. When we use the functionally
equivalent EXEC procname, no line
numbers are checked. Instead, each line
is checked to see if it begins with the two-
byte token for the keyword PROC. When
this is found, then the PROC name field
is checked. We end up checking extra
bytes, which takes longer. So, it is much
mo7-e important to place routines correct-
ly in Simons' BASIC.

A related issue is the choice of names
for PROCs. Since they are searched for
by name, the process is faster if the
names begin with unique first letters.
There is a small twist to this. Since names
(and, for that matter, REM statements)
are stored in tokenized form, it follows
that the names READ ONE and REED
ONE (for example) begin — in their stored
forms — with unique first stored
characters!

There are some nice added features for
programming loops. We may, for exam-
ple, have: LOOP . . . EXIT IF "expres-
sion" . . . END LOOP. Logically, this is
attractively 'clean' and readable. But
there is a pitfall. When the 'expression'
is true, and we wish to exit from the loop,

ail the statements following the EXIT IF
statement must be checked to see if they
contain the two-byte token for END
LOOP. If there is a lot of code in the loop
after the EXIT IF, then a fair amount of
time may be frittered away.

So what's the bottom line? Do we win
or lose? If we take advantage of the ex-
tra functions to shorten our programs,
and if we use and place our PROCs with
care, we can have efficient programs in
Simons' BASIC. If not, if we were simp-
ly to replace each GOTO with a CALL,
and each GOSUB with an EXEC, we
would most likely create a slow-running
monster. Like most sharp tools, Simons'
BASIC needs care to get the best results.

This brief note, of course, has just
scratched the surface of the topic of
Simons' BASIC run-speed factors. It is,
however, a start. I believe that Simons'
BASIC is a tool valuable enough to be
studied and made the most of. O

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TPUG Magazine 29

ESC G2

by Adam Herst

It used to be easy being a Commodore
computer fanatic. You knew that using
save® was hazardous to your mental
health, although waiting for programs to
load provided ample opportunity to attain
satori. Nonetheless, a certain
camaraderie among users (most likely
since no one else understands PETSCII),
and a surprising compatibility between
machines and peripherals prevailed. Well,
the times they are a-changing.

In the last few months, after long
delays and predictions of corprorate death.
Commodore has given life to three total-
ly different incarnations of the personal
computer; the Amiga, the PC series and
the C-128. Most familiar in style is the
C-128, the culmination of Commodore's
years of producing eight-bit computers:
if you adored your 64 then you'll ap-
preciate your 128. On top of that, most
of the programs and peripherals that you
already own will work with the C-128.
Every day brings some new discovery of
its potential, problems and personality.
ESC G 2 will keep you abreast of the
latest discoveries and act as a clearing
house for any and all C-128-related
information.

From the ashes

The rumours of Commodore's death have
been greatly exaggerated. After a poor
start, 1985 finished in grand style for the
company. To some degree of corporate
astonishment, the supply of C-128s can
barely meet demand. Nearly 500 thou-
sand C-128S were sold by the end of the
year. If the C-128 follows in the C-64's
venerable footsteps, 1986 should be even
better. And let's not forget the old work
horse: with a million units sold in 1985,
the 'obsolete toy' shows no signs of fading
away.

System status

The C-128 is a great computer to unpack.
Have you ever seen such a nice carton?
The benifits of higher intelligence don't
stop at the packaging. Open the box and
other delights appear. Look at that — a
thick user's guide (hardly complete, but
chock full of information). And Martha,
they gave us two disks as well.

On one of those disks are the files
necessary to run the CP/M operating
system on the C-128. In the manual are

five sections devoted to CP/M. Booting
the system is a simple matter of inserting
the disk and turning on the computer. Us-
ing the system is a simple matter of
reading the manual and tearing your hair
out by the roots.

You will quickly find that the informa-
tion contained in the CP/M sections of the
user's guide do not pertain directly to the
C-128. It is a good elementary introduc-
tion to CP/M, but it does not detail the
quirks and capabilities of the system on
the 128. Your best source of machine
specific information is the help files con-
tained on the systems disk. (Look in last
issue for detailed information on how to
print a hardcopy of these files.)

Contained in the C-128 User's Guide is
an offer to purchase a CP/M manual and
two utilities disks from DRI. Since he who
hesitates is lost, here is some information
to prod you along.

■rhe manual you will receive contains
the User's Guide, the Programmer's
Guide and the System Guide, bound
together in a 700-plus page book. The
User's Guide details the operation and
commands for the various CP/M Plus
utilities. This was the source of most of
the information presented in the C-128
User's Guide, complete with the identical
diagrams.

The Programmer's Guide and System
Guide contain information on the com-
ponents of the operating system, how
they are organized in memory and how
they function with respect to each other.
Included are example Z80 assembly
language programs. This is advanced
stuff, and definitely not for the beginner.

With the manual , you will receive an
additional two disks. These contain the
system source code, as well as additional
utilites. The utilities provide a complete
Z80 assembly language programming en-
vironment, and are a must if you have
assembler on your mind. These utilities
will also be useful if you plan on tailor-
ing to the 128 some of the many public
domain programs available.

If none of this convinces you to respond
to the DRI offer, consider this final point.
A source at Commodore has indicated
that future upgrades to the CP/M system
will be sent free of charge only to
registered users. "How do you become a
registered user?" you ask, "Sending in
the CP/M registration card" is the
answer.

Upgrade update

The value of becoming a registered user
appreciates quickly. The CP/M system
that came with your 128 has a marked
deficiency. No support was included for
the expansion port or the user port. Since
these are the ports on your computer to
which modems and non-standard printers
and disk drives are connected, this has
meant that using these peripherals from
within CP/M mode was impossible.

Since the original release, though, an
upgraded system has been developed that
provides user and expansion port sup-
port, along with a number of other
enhancements. This upgrade, dated
December 6, has not been officially
released by Commodore, and new C-12&
are still being packaged with the old
CP/M system. A source at Commodore
has indicated that, while no date has been
set, the official release of the upgraded
system will be sent free of charge to all
registered users.

In the meantime, it is still possible to
upgrade your system with the unofficial
version of the update. Von Ertwein, a
Commodore engineer (type sys
32800,123,45,6 in 128 mode to find out
more about him), has placed newsys.com
in the public domain. This is not a new
cpm + .Bys file, but will modify your ex-
isting one.

An end to head banging

The method behind this circuitous route
of modifying your system is worth men-
tioning, since it touches on an important
issue in the computer industry. As you ac-
quire commercial CP/M programs, you
will notice that the copyrights are not en-
forced by asinine, destructive, disk-based
protection schemes. Copyright of CP/M
programs tend to be enforced by lengthy,
verbose and convoluted licensing
agreements. By breaking the seal or
wrapping, you become party to a 'shrink-
wrapped' licensing agreement.

When you removed your system disk
from its envelope you broke just such a
seal. Distributing any of the programs on
the disk in any form is forbidden and, if
DRI had its way, punishable by death or
worse. Consequently, modified files can-
not be distributed while the files that do
the modifying can. The files necessary to
upgrade your system are currently
available on TPUG CP/M disk (Z)AA.

30 Issue 22

Whatever happened to . . .

Expandable to 512K? Not yet but soon.
Prototype expansion modules have been
floating around, and a release date is fast
approaching (although no definite one has
been given). TPUG Magazine was given
a brief preview courtesy of Commodore
Canada — just long enough to start us
drooling.

In CP/M mode, the system is precon-
figured to use the extra memory as a
RAM disk designated drive M:, If you
thought the 1571, was fast wait till you
try the RAM disk. Since the expansion
port is not supported in CP/M mode on
the original system, you must have the
upgraded system for it to work.

C-128 mode allows access to the extra
memory via the BASIC 7.0 commands
fetch, stash and swap. No RAM disk
drivers will be included with the module,
but third party manufacturers are
already hard at work. More news on this
as it develops.

Perhaps the best surprise is the ability
to address the extra memory from 64
mode. A bit of bit-toggling is all that is
needed (see Tim Grantham's article in
this issue.) Even better news for those 64
owners is the fact that a C-64 can use this
expansion cartridge as well. Imagine, a
512K C-64.

As with most new products, a few bugs
need extermination. An incompatible
resistor in the first five thousand produc-
tion units will not let the expansion
modiJe work on a C-64, although it will
work in the C-128's 64 mode. This is be-
ing corrected on subsequent units. More
disturbing is the news that the expansion
module will not work with some of the
early model C-128's. Affected units have
serial numbers CA1044001 to
CA1046880 and CA1127321 to
CA1127680. Commodore has not reveal-
ed what its policy on this matter will be,
but the problem will not be ignored.

Just received

Don't junk your IEEE and parallel
peripherals just yet. The necessary inter-
face can be had from Rich-Hill Telecom
International. A beta-test model has been
installed at the TPUG office, and has suc-
cesfuly linked an 8050, 4040 and Man-
nesman Tally printer to the C-128
system. More news on this product as we
put it through its paces.

That wraps up this month's column
save for a single postcript. Honourable
mention will be given for the first correct
interpretation of this column's title. If its
worth $0.34 to see your name in print
take a chance: I'll enjoy hearing from you.

D

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Tel: (416) 446-1035

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offer phone between 8:30 am & 5 pm
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Tel.6LV256-2597

TPUG Magazine 31

I adore my C-576!

by Tim Grantham

It all began with a report from Jim
Strasma saying that an unnamed source
at Commodore had told him that the 1750
RAM expansion unit for the C-128 would
also work on the C-64. I left a plaintive
message to CBM on CompuServe, asking
for confirmation, which I duly received,
but details were tantaiizingly sketchy.
Fortunately, Dealer Support at CBM
Canada kindly lent me a copy of the user
manual, though they expressed some
skepticism about using the RAM expan-
sion with the C-64.

Indeed, the manual makes no mention
of this capability. However, after poring
over the section describing the RCU
(RAM Control Unit) chip, it seemed to me
that there was no obvious reason why it
shouldn't work on the C-64, barring some
incompatibility with the C-64's power
supply. The expansion port on the two
computers is very similar, and the RAM
expansion unit maps onto precisely the
same area of memory, ($DFOO, one of two
areas reserved on the C-64 for expansion,
the other being $DEOO, where the ill-
fated CP/M option was accessed). I wrote
a short BASIC program, adapted from an
example program In the manual , to test
my hypothesis.

When I relayed my theories to CBM
C^inada, they were intrigued enough to
call the engineers at CBM's head office
in West Chester, Pennsylvania. They
stated unequivocally that the unit would
work in 64 mode on the 128, although it
would have to be controlled with ML
(machine language). Furthermore, they
stated that it would also work on the C-64
provided one pull-up resistor was re-
moved from the expansion unit. Finally,
they said that, while they could make no
guarantees about the first 5000 units, all
subsequent units would be able to work
on both the C-64 and C-128 without
modification.

What follows are the two short BASIC
programs I wrote and ran on a C-128 in
64 mode to confirm the viability of the
unit as a C-64 accessory.

10 re=5?088

15 for i=re to re+10:poke i

I : next i
20 pokere+B, 3:pokere+7,232
30 poke re+3,peek(64a)

40 poke re+1,16;poke re+1,p
eekCre+l) or 128

If you are familiar with the way the SID
chip works, you'll have no trouble
understanding the RCU on the RAM ex-
pansion , In order to produce a sound on
the SID, we set the pitch, envelope, and
waveform by writing the appropriate
values into the corresponding registers.
When we want to actually trigger the
note, we set the gate bit in the control
register for the voice.

The same approach is used to program
the RCU. (See accompanjing diagram.)
Line 15 above, initializes the RCU by
clearing all but the read-only status
register. Line 20 sets the length of the
block of memory to be transferred, in this
case 1000 bytes. Line 30 sets the start ad-
dress of the block of memory to be trans-
ferred: in this example, it is the start of
screen memory. Line 40 sets two bits in
the control register: the fourth bit, which
disables the feature that allows the RCU
to be triggered via the MMU (Memory
Management Unit) on the C-128; and the
seventh bit, which is the execute bit. As
soon as this bit is set, the RCU will halt
the CPU (Central Processing Unit), so
that the RCU can directly access the
memory in the computer. In the above ex-
ample, it transfers or 'stashes' 1000 bytes
of memory, starting at the screen base
address (normally 1024) in the computer,
to the RAM expansion unit, starting at
address 0, bank 0. (There are 7 banks of
64Kin the 1750 RAM.)

If, after loading this program, we then
list and run it, the listing will be stored
with the screen memory contents to the
RAM expansion . Pressing the CLR key
will clear screen memory. Now we can
load and run t(je followring program:

10 re=57088

12 for x=Uo2B

13 for i=re to re+10:pokei,
: nexti

20 pokere+8,3:pGkere+7,23^
30 poker-e + 3,peek( 648)
40 poKere + 1 , peek{ re+1) or 17:
p(ikere+1 ,peekC rB-*1)nr128
45 fort = Uo50:nextt
50 pri nt "<clr>" : printx
55 fort=1toB0:nexfct
60 nextx

After re-initializing the RCU, line 20 sets
the transfer block length to 1000 bytes
again. Line 30 sets the starting location
of the transfer to the beginning of screen
memory. So far, everything is the same
as the first program. Line 40, however,
contains the crucial difference. ORing the
previous contents with 17 sets bit four
(preserving the MMU disable), and bit
zero, defining the type of transfer to be
from the RAM unit to the computer. Bit
seven, the execute bit, is then set and the
transfer, or 'fetch' takes place. Line 45
waits for a moment before line 50 clears
the screen, and prints a counter. After
another brief wait, the program fetches
the previous screen memory contents
from the RAM unit again. This takes
place 25 times in all.

What we see, therefore, is the screen
rapidly flashing between the listing of the
previous program, and the blank screen
containing the counter.

The RCU has a couple of other nice
features. Normally, the unit's address
registers wil! contain the address of the
last byte plus one of the block of memory
transferred. With the 'autoload' con-
figuration, the address registers will be
reset to the address of the first byte
transferred . This is very useful if we want
to perform several operations on the
same part of memory, restashing the
memory after each operation. It works
just as well with fetches. In the second
program listed above, for example, we
would not have had to rewrite the ad-
dresses every time we fetched the screen
we had stashed in the first program.

The RCU also has a Verify option that
compares what is in the RAM unit with
what is in the computer's memory. If an
error is detected, an interrupt is
generated, and the RCU hands back con-
trol to the CPU. The address registers
will have been frozen at the byte where
the error was detected.

The RAM unit is very fast, stashing and
fetching at one million bytes per second!
A swap cuts this speed in half.

It is doubtful that, at this stage of the
game, software developers will adapt or
create programs that will take advantage
of the RAM unit for the C-64. But ML
hackers could have a lot of fun with it.
Just think, you could have a 552K buffer
on your favourite terminal program! D

32 Issue 22

Amiga Screen Magic

by Chris Johnson

You can do far more with the Amiga
screen than you are told in the manuals
that come with it. For example, enter
ABasiC or a window. If you press the
'cursor up' key, nothing happens. Now
hold down CTRL and the left-hand ALT
key; press M. The cursor moves up.

Keep doing this until the cursor reaches
the top of the screen — but don't stop
now! Keep going, and the entire screen
will scroll down. This is just one of the
screen commands that the Amiga sup-
ports. They work in ABasiC, but not in
AmigaBasic, which is a much more
powerful language, and has its own com-
mands to do most things.

The following lines set up screen-
control strings, using the abbreviations
in the AmigaDOS Manual. Most of these
codes are preceded by an escape
character or Control Sequence In-
troducer - CHRS(155).

100 rem make cursor, screen

management strings
110 C3lf=chr$( 155} : rem ctr

1 sequence Introducer
128 lch$'^csi$-^"B" : rem Inse

rt character
130 cuu$=csi$4''a" : rem up
148 cud$=cBi$+"b": rem down
1S0 cuf$=csi$+"c": rem forw

ard [right]
160 cubf=csi$H"d": rem back

ward [left]
170 cnl$=cei$+"e": rem csr

to start of next line
180 cp]$=csi$+*'f": rem csr

to start of prev line
190 home$-csi$+"h": rem csr

to top left of screen
200 ed$=--csl$-^'•J'*: rem cleiir

screen to bottom
210 eI$=^cBi$+"k" : rem clear

to end of line
220 il$'-c3i$-»**] " : rem inser

t blank line jboue csr
230 dl$=csi$+"m" : rem delet

e current line
240 dch$=C3i$+"p": rem dele

te char under cursor
250 su$^csi$+"s": rem scrol

1 entire screen up
260 sd$=csi$+"t'': rem scrol

1 entire screen down
270 cls$=chr$t 12J : rem clea

r screen
The following section dimensions an ar-

ray for later use, then prints the words
'Screen things' in reverse video in the
centre of the screen. It works whether
the screen is in 40 or 80 column mode —
or even if you have defined a smaller win-
dow. (By changing line 300 to SCREEN
0,2,0, the display can be changed to 40
column.)

Line 320 finds the width and height of
the current screen in pixels. Since there
are eight pixels to each printing line, and
we want to find the middle line of the
screen , we divide the number of pixels by
16. The column on which to start printing
(half the difference between the width of
the screen in characters and the length
of the string to be printed) is set in line
340.

Line 350 concatenates the screen-
positioning command, (which has the
same effect as a PRINT AT command)
with the message to be printed. The syn-
tax is CSI + "y;xH", where y is the row
and X the column.

2B0 rem centre title

285 letterX=50: dim letter$

[letter%]
290 print cls$;
380 screen 1,2,0: rem use

,2,0 for 40 columns
310 titl$^" screen things "
320 ask window wideX, highX
330 rowX^int{high%/16] : rem

centre vertically
340 column%-{ int{ wideX/fl)-)

en(titl$J)/2
350 centr$=c3l$+atr$[row'X} +

"; "+str$( column*) +"h"+t

itl$
360 print inuerse(l) centt-$
370 sleep 7B0000: rem 3/4 s

Now we move the message up and down
on the screen by using the SU and SD
sequences.

388 rem move title up, down

390 print home$

408 for i=1 to row%-1: prin

t su$; : next
418 for 1=1 to {rowX-1)«2:

print sd$; : next
420 for i=1 to iow%"1: prin

t su$: next
430 sleep 250800: rem 1/4 s

Next, the ICH and DCH {'insert character'
and 'delete character') sequences are us-
ed to move the message to the left and
right across the .screen.

440 rem title left, right
450 print csif str$[rowXJ+"

jlh";: rem position csr
460 for i=1 to column%-1: p

rint icli$;: next
470 for i=T to (columnX-1)*

2: print dch$; : next
460 for i-1 to columnX-l: p

rint ich$; : next
490 sleep 588000: rem 1/2 s

By inserting and deleting a line on the
screen, the remainder of the screen can
be scrolled down and up respectively.

508 rem scroll part of scrn

510 print cls$

SIS hbar$=string$(wideX/B -

1,"-")
520 print "partial scrollin

g of the screen": print
530 print hbarf: print
550 for 1=1 to letterX: let

ter$(i)=str$(i)^-" -+st

ring$(wideX/?4,i+64) : n

ext
B60 for i-letterX to 1 step

-1
570 print at (wideX/24,6) 1

etter$(l);: sleep 10000

: print at (0,6) il$; :

next
588 for i-1 to 25: print at

[0,6) il$: next
598 print at [8,6] ed$
600 for i=1 to letterX
610 print at (0,6) dl|: pri

nt at (wideX/24,24) let

ter$(i);
620 sleep 10080: next
630 for i=1 tn 20: print at

(8,5) dl$: next

CUP (cursor position) is not the only one
of these commands that can take a
parameter. Inserting a number n bet-
ween the CSI and the command will
cause that command to be repeated n
times.

648 rem adding parameters
64S print at [0,7) "press a

ny key to continue": ge

tkey a$
650 scnclr: for i=1 to 25:

print letter$(i): next:

sleep 500000
660 print at (0,0) c3l$; st

r*( 10) s"^: sleep 580008
670 print at (0,24) C3i$; s

tr$(10); "b-

P

TPUG Magazine 33

Personal computers and the handicapped

by Malcolm J. MacArthur

Today's personal computer technology
can provide great benefits to the handi-
capped individual. As prices continue to
drop, economic considerations become
less and less prohibitive. The Commodore
64 and the VIC 20 are prime examples.
In this article I will describe just a few
of their many possible uses, including ap-
plications both for environmental control
of a handicapped person's immediate sur-
roundings and for personal productivity.

Personal computers can be used by the
handicapped in a variety of ways and for
a number of purposes. Some ailments can
leave a person paralysed but capable of
speech. For such people, voice controlled
computer systems are a natural choice.
Other diseases such as stroke, amytrophic
lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease)
and cerebral palsy can leave a person
physically helpless and speechless, while
retaining normal mental functioning. If
even a single muscle remains functional ,
it may be possible for these people to
operate a contact closure. Finally, for vic-
tims of stroke and multiple sclerosis, and
for spastic and brain-damaged individ-
uals, rehabilitation of damaged muscles
can be facilitated through the use of video
games.

To illustrate the principles involved, I
will describe several programs written to
demonstrate the use of voice-controlled
aids for a person who can speak but lacks
the motor control to operate even simple
appliances. The programs have been sub-
mitted to the TPUG library and are also
available from me. The circuit diagram
for the control circuit is included with this
article. Components are readily available
from Radio Shack or other sources. The
examples I give here by no means ex-
haust the potential of this approach: a
great many other possibilities have been
and will be pursued.

The voice control for these applications
is made possible through the use of the
Lis'ner 1000. This unit was the subject
of an article by Steve Ciarcia in the
November 1984 issue of Byte magazine,
and is available from:

The MICRO MINT
561 Willow Avenue
Cedarhurst, NY 11516

The Lis'ner is a small printed circuit
board that connects to the expansion port

of the Commodore 64. (There is also a
version for the Apple II), The cost of the
Lis'ner is $150.00 (US) assembled, or
$119.00 in kit form. For the intrepid
builder, the BYTE article includes the cir-
cuit diagram and enough information to
assemble the Lis'ner 1000 from scratch.

The software for the C-64 — included
with the purchase of the Lis'ner — norm-
alizes the length of the speech segment
and generates a 128-byte representation
of the spoken word or phrase. This
representation or template is compared
to the templates created during a train-
ing session. Recognition is speaker-
dependent; a utility is included to train
the recognizer to a particular voice.

The integration of voice recognition
into programs has been made simple by
the designer of the Lis'ner 1000 software.
The program allows templates to be gen-
erated for up to 64 words or short phrases
at a time. When entering the words, two
parts are required. You must first enter
the actual word that will form the
system's vocabulary. Some care is re-
quired in choosing words, since similar-
sounding words such as 'accept' and 'ex-
cept' are likely to cause problems. You
then supply for each word a correspond-
ing command string of up to sixteen char-
acters. When recognition takes place, the
command string characters are inserted
into the keyboard input stream, just as
if they had been typed on the keyboard.

The BASIC get and Input statements
work normally. The technique of fetching
a character directly from the keyboard
scan locations (197 and 204 on the C-64)
does not work with the Lis'ner 1000 soft-
ware. The time required to make a
recognition decision varies with the
number of words, and can take up to
about 3 seconds if 64 words are active.
Experience indicates that better accuracy
and decision-making times are achieved
with a vocabulary of about 20 words or
less. With menu-oriented software, 20
words is more than adequate.

With the voice-recognition system as
the input device, it is possible to provide
a flexible system that will enable people
confined to a bed or wheelchair to con-
trol items in their immediate environ-
ment. These items include lights, radio,
television and telephone, and could in-
clude many others in particular situa-
tions. It is also desirable to provide nor-
mal computer functions: word processing.

data management, entertainment and so
on.

Implemented applications include en-
vironmental control, telephone control
and simple word processing, as well as
voice-recognition tutorial and practice
programs. I have also submitted an en-
vironmental control and communications
program for the unexpanded VIC 20 to
the TPUG library . These programs are
described briefly below. Except for a
short machine language routine that was
needed to control telephone dialling, all
are written in BASIC.

Telephone

The Telephone program displays a list of
names and telephone numbers on the
screen. The list is displayed eight
numbers at a time, and a selection can be
made by speaking a digit from 1 to 8. The
program displays the item selected and
asks for confirmation of your choice. If
you confirm your selection the speaker-
phone will be dialled. Choosing a blank
entry will allow you to compose a number.

As with all the programs in the set, the
tenth and last menu entry on each page
selects the next menu screen. The ninth
menu entry allows exit from the
Telephone program. Selecting this item
changes the screen display to a menu
listing all the programs that can be call-
ed. Again a digit is spoken to select the
next program.

Included in the Telephone program —
and all the others — is the ability to
answer an incoming call using the word
Answer. Once a call is in progress, the
voice recognizer can get very confused.
To combat this problem, a simple solution
was adopted. The program waits for the
phrase End of call to be spoken twice
within five seconds. This will terminate
the call, either incoming or outgoing.
Note that the telephone program
automatically loads the machine language
program Dial. ml when it is started.

Control

The Control program allows control of
relays that are connected to standard AC
outlets. The relays used are inexpensive
(five dollars) and will handle up to 3 amps,
adequate for most applications. The pro-
gram displays a menu cataloguing the
items to be controlled. An item is selected
by speaking the digit associated with it.
Once a selection is made the computer

34 Issue 22

describes the current status of the
selected item, and invites you to speak a
digit to change the status or to make
another choice.

Typer

This program is an adaptation of a
freeware program by Don Peterson of
Tempe, Arizona. Mr. Peterson's program
(Talker Typer, also submitted to the
TPUG library) incorporates a 1300- word

lexicon, and is designed to allow text to
be prepared on the screen, then printed
or spoken. The spoken output is optional,
and requires that the Software
Automatic Mouth (SAM) program be
loaded. The control mechanism for
Talker lyper is a contact closure or the
joystick fire button.

Renamed Typer, this program has been
substantially rewritten for use with voice

control. A 10 by 10 matrix containing
characters, word list selections and com-
mands is displayed on the screen. Items
are chosen from the matrix by speaking
the coordinates of the row and column.
Text is assembled on the screen by spell-
ing words of 5 characters or less, or selec-
ting from the screen words longer than
5 characters. Word lists are included for

Continued overleaf. . .

GENERAL PURPOSE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL DEVICE

12V @ 300m> (RC Adapter)

r

COMMODORE 64

USEH POHT

^

17
16
IS
14
13
12

U1

L

Spflft Output

N p Np

-^

SPEAKERPHONE

MODULAR JACK

L

RvlAy. Radio Shick tZQVOC coll,
3 Pump 120V conlJiet,

-J*-

3 Purnpt

;/*.

■^-

U1 74f>tS571

Components

The interface is based on the use of an
8-bit TTL latch to store the output of the
C-64 output register available at the user
port. This latch is powered by the com-
puter's 5-volt povkfer supply, and should
be located close to the computer. A
small piece of vector board can be
mounted on the edge connector that
plugs into the user port. The 24-pin con-
nector required is not readily available;
however, Radio Shack has a 44-pin con-
nector (#276-1551) that can be cut to fit.
Connect the output from the latch to the
main interface assembly using a piece

of ribbon cable or other multiconductor
cable. The relays (K3, K4, K5) that con-
trol the AC outlets should be physically
separated from the rest of the circuit to
provide good isolation of the AC connec-
tions. The prototype unit uses standard
AC outlets in standard steel boxes,
powered by a normal 3- prong cord.

Construction

If 5 VDC coil relays (available at some
Radio Shack outlets) are used, then
substitute a 1 K resistor for the 2.4K in the
relay driver circuit, and substitute a 6
VDC AC adapter (300 ma) for the 12

VDC adapter specified. The latch can be
replaced by any TTL unit that will sink
5ma in the logic state (CMOS not
recommended). The latch is not required
for the VIC 20 application: simply con-
nect the relay drivers directly to the user
port. The speakerphone connections are
made by inserting the relay contacts for
K1 and K2 into the two wires coming
from the modular plug to the speaker-
phone. The speakerphone is left in the
off-hook position, and answering and
dialling are done by K1 and K2. Radio
Shack speakerphone #43-278 at about
40 dollars, or #43-277A at about 90
dollars, will be satisfactory.

TPUG Magazine 35

the letters of the alphabet and for cities,

states (provinces), dates and countries.
After being assembled, text from the
screen can be printed. The prototype uses
a Cardco G-Wiz printer interface, which
works well, although there is a problem
when the program is used with a 1525
printer. This problem can be solved by
turning the printer off when not in use.
Alternatively, the relay control sub-
routine, which uses registers shared with
the serial bus, could be modified to cor-
rect the problem.

Voice Calc

As the name suggests, this program is a
simple voice-operated calculator. A
calculator is drawn on the screen using
character graphics. Operations are in-
voked by speaking the name of the 'key'
you wish to select.

Practice

This program is designed to familiarize
the user with word-recognition program
control. It is not a substitute for creating
good recognition templates during the
training session. Two modes of practice
are incorporated. In the first mode, all the
prompt words are displayed on the
screen. You will then be invited to speak.

The word recognized by the computer will
briefly change colour. The second mode
of the Practice program will display a
random sequence of 25 prompt words,
and invite you to speak the words as they
are presented. Performance is indicated
by a score out of 25.

Write

Write is a 90-line BASIC program for the
unexpanded VIC 20, operated by a single
contact closure. A matrix of letters,
digits, punctuation and commands is
displayed on the upper portion of the
screen. The matrix is scanned by a
reverse video cursor, and selections are
made by closing the contact when the
desired item is highlighted. The bottom
of the screen is used to prepare messages .
Messages can be scrolled up, but text
scrolled off the top line is lost.

Rehabilitation

Video games are being used in Perth,
Australia, and many other places to
facilitate the rehabilitation of muscle con-
trol. The paddle controller of the VIC and
64 is a simple potentiometer, shunted by
a capacitor. In Perth, this potentiometer
has been built into a variety of trans-
ducers, which are strapped onto arms,

legs, wrists, hips, knuckles and even jaws.

The Perth hospitals use custom-
designed computers and custom video
games. Other appHcations in this country
use standard personal computers. The
use of personal computers with commer-
cial software is desirable, but presents
two problems. First, the transducer must
provide for adjustments that will trans-
late a patient's restricted range of motion
to that expected by the commercial soft-
ware. Second, the execution speed of
most commercial software is not suitable
for the handicapped.

The application of the techniques dis-
cussed is encouraging, if not simple. Each
application is different, and some
customization of software and possibly
hardware can be expected in each case.
Most encourciging is the fact that the
technolo^ required to help the handi-
capped in a meaningful way is cheap,
readily available, and in the hands of in-
novative personal computer owners. The
prototype system discussed was recent-
ly demonstrated at the Royal Ottawa
Hospital Rehabilitation unit, and was
judged to be immediately usable. Detail-
ed, formal reports of the system's ef-
ficacy and limitations are sure to be
forthcoming. □

Limited time offer

SSDD- $11.00/box

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(Minimum purchase - 5. Delivery extra.)

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to the highest
quaiity, lowest
priced brand name
diskettes available
in Canada.

Q. Who has switched?

A. Professional and educational
institutions, national accounting
firms, major engineering firms,
software houses, computer
retailers and the Toronto Pet
Users Group.

In Bulk - 3V2 inch discs
SSDD $3.50 each / DSDD $4.00 each

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Programmers Guild Products Ltd., 255 ManuLlfe Place, 10180 - 101 St., [ yiSA \
Ednnonton, Alberta T5J 3S4 Phone: (403) 428-6229 ■■IHi

/MatlnCordj

Doublesiding paper: the true facts

by Reggie Ramloose

Reprinted from the newsletter of the
Nashville Commodore Users Group.

The good news is that, due to the rising

sales of computers, the price of diskettes
is falling. The bad news is that the near
future is hkely to bring higher prices for
paper supplies. However, if you still use
the old No. 2 bonded lead word processor,
I have some useful information: you can
double-side your notebook paper!

Although paper manufactures only cer-
tify the 'front side' of a piece of paper,
it is a little-known fact that the back side
is capable of holding the same amount of
written information. You, too, can use the
back side of your paper, but before you
do, I must inform you that there are mix-
ed feelings about doing so.

Paper manufacturers are quick to warn
that writing on the back side of the sheet
can cause problems for the data on both

sides of the paper: they will not honour
warranties if the back side has been us-
ed. The biggest problem is 'write-
through'. This occurs if the wrong pencil
or pen is used, or if too such pressure is
applied during the writing process. There
is a problem with standardization, also.
Some users turn the paper upside-down
when writing on the back, while others
leave it right side up. (If the paper is held
upside-down during the reading process,
it will be in the wrong orientation to the
'head', and a read error will occur). Also,
many public school teachers, publishers,
and governmental offices frown upon the
practice of using the back of the paper,
and will not accept material if both sides
of the^ paper have been used.

Students and other paper users,
however, claim that they have used the
backs of many thousands of pages with
little or no loss of data. A few go so far
as to claim that there is a conspiracy
among paper manufacturers, merchan-

disers, and public officials to discourage

the use of the backs.

You must yourself decide if you will use
the backside of your paper. But if you
decide to give it a go, here's how:

Look at a sheet of paper. You can tell the
front by several methods. First, the row
of alignment holes goes toward the left.
Secondly, the watermark (if present) can
be read if you hold the paper up to a light.
To double-side a sheet, turn it over. Ex-
amine the back, looking especially for ob-
vious flaws and defects. If the overall ap-
pearance is satisfactory, then with a ruler
and pen mark locations on the right side.
(You should try this initially with paper
conataining no valuable data). Use a
regular hole-punch to make the holes.
(You can purchase one at a department
store, but I don't recommend that you tell
them what you intend to use if for).

Your paper is now double-sided. Good
luck, if you decide to try it. D

OS/9 Software

NOW AVAILABLE!

Word Processor -
Stylograph III

Mail merge, Spell checker. Menu driven,
fast. Extensive features. Formats to screen
as you work US $149 Cdn $210

C Compiler

A full implementation of K & R standard C,
with double precision variables.
US $138 Cdn $170

BASiC09

A fully structured, sophisticated semi-
compiled (I code) BASIC. See Byte
magazine April 1984. . US $110 Cdn $155

FORTRAN 77

Full FORTRAN compiler. . . coming soon.
US $120 Cdn $166

DynaStar, DynaForm,
DynaSpell

A full screen (similar to microEDIT) editor,
text formatter and spell checker.
US $90 Cdn $127

Other: Pascal, DynaCalc, Database etc., available on
demand.

To Order: Send a cheque or money order (add SIO for
shipping/handling and 7% PST where applicable) to:

TPUG,

101 Duncan Mill Rd., Suite G-7,
Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 1Z3

Library Additions

TPUG's library of public domain soft-
ware grows month by month. Hundreds
of disks containing thousands of pro-
grams are available to TPUG rmmbers at
the nominal cost of ten dollars per disk.
Considering that each disk is packed with
good programs, at today's soflvxtre prices,
this is a fantastic valve.

In order for the library to keep grow-
ing, our librarians need a constant supply
of new programs. If you have written a
program or a collection of programs that
ymi think might be an asset to the library,
please send it to: TPUG Program
Library, 101 Duncan Mill Road, Suite
Gr, Don Mills, Ontario MSB IZS,
Canada. If your contribution is accepted,
you will he sent the library disk of your
choice. If, for soTtie reason, your contribu-
tion is not needed, your original disk will
be returned to you.

This month we present an abbreviated
Library Additions column. Next issu£'s
instalment unll be correspondingly ex-
panded, and should bring you up to dute
on all recent TPUG disks.

C-128 Disk (Z)AA, (Z)AB
Presented by Adam Herst

March is the month for CP/M on the 128!
This month we've released our first of-
ficial CP/M disks: (Z)AA, the upgrade
disk, and (Z)AB, the telecommunications
utility disk.

(Z)AA is called the upgrade disk
because it contains the files necessary for
you to upgrade your CPM + .SYS
systems file . Largely the work of CBM
engineer Von Ertwein , these programs
were placed in the public domain for
distribution. The new systems file is call-
ed, would you believe, NEWSYS.COM.
This is not a new CFM-t- .SYS file, but
will upgrade your CPM-i- .SYS file.

The procedure you must follow is well
documented in C128.DOC. Since you
already have NEWSYS.COM on a CP/M
disk, you can skip the first few steps.
Among other modifications, your new
CP/M system vrill support the RS232
port, allowing communications via
modem.

Also on this disk is C0NF.COM and
CONF.DOC. While not system upgrades,
they allow you to configure your system
after you've booted up. Useful things
such as setting the colours, poking

memory and shutting off the 40-column
screen to increase system speed are now
possible.

C1571.COM is a disk utility that does
one straightforward thing: it shuts off
write verify on the 1571. Consequently,
write speed is doubled — at the risk of
grave consequences.

Finally, SWP.COM is included. Though
not a system update , it is a very popular
CP/M file copy utility. It is menu driven
and very effective.

Now that your system supports the
RS232 port, (Z)AB contains the files you
will need to successfully download all that
public domain software. IMP-C128.COM
is a very good modem program. It sup-
ports both XModem and buffer upload
and download at 300 and 1200 bits per
second. There are many other options too
numerous to list here. Very good
documentation is contained in IMP.DOC.

Many of the programs you will
download are contained in .LBR files, in
which the many files required by a pro-
gram are merged and crunched into one
file for easy and quicker transfer.
LU310.COM will extract files from a
XBR file. LDIR22 will give you a list of
the files contained in a .LBR file. Final-
ly TYPL35.COM will list the contents of
a file before it has been extracted from
the .LBR file. Relevant documentation is
contained in LU310.UPD, LDIR22.MSG
and TYPL35.DOC respectively.

Another space-saving utility is
SQ.COM (the SQ stands for 'squeezes-
Squeezed files are usually designated by
a filename of .xQx. USQ20.COM will un-
squeeze a file for you, while SQ17.COM
will squeeze it. Both programs are
documented in SQUEEZ.DOC.

I would recommend obtaining the files
on this disk if you intend to purchase
other TPUG CP/M disks. To make the
best use of the limited space on a single-
sided disk, many of the programs will be
squeezed and turned into .LBR files.

Finally, a word on the disk documen-
tation. As CP/M lacks a list command, a
list-me file will not appear on the CP/M
disks. In its place is a type. me file. To
view this file, put the disk in your drive
and type TYPE TYPE. ME at the CP/M
systems prompt. Good luck getting used
to your new system and remember to
donate any public domain programs you
may have collected or written. D

zsa/type

me

newsys

com

c128

doc

. conf

com

conf

hip

clB71

com

swp

com

zafa/type

me :

Imp

doc

imp-c128

com

lu3ie

com

lu310

upd

ldir22

com

ldir22

ms2

typl35

com

typl35

doc

aql?

com

squeez

doc

usq20

com

Personal Computer
INSURANCE

Protection you can depend on
for your computer. No matter
what kind of computer you own,
whether it's for personal and/or
business use, this policy provides
the coverage you need, it covers
hardware, software and acces-
sories (even those which are
leased or rented from others) on
a full replacement cost basis.

Joan Evensen
Insurance Services Ltd.

124 Mortimer Ave.

Toronto, Ontario M4K 2A4

(416) 429-6324

Available to Ontario residents only

TPUG BBS

The NEW telephone number is:

(416) 273-6300

Operating hours:

24 hours per day

7 days per week

The password is . . .

LIMITS

38 Issue 22

Sattware

NAME

STREET ADDRESS

CI TY/TOWN/PO
PROV/STATE

TELEPHONE

TORONTO PET USERS GROUP, 101 Duncan Mill Road, Suite G7, Don Mills, Ontario M3B 1Z3 416-445-4524

disks

These disks are for use with a
Please send me the following;
3 Letter/No.
Code

To order dub disks by mail, send SiO.OO for each

4040/2031/1 54 0/154 1 disk [4040 format), discount price
5-10 S9.00 each. II or more sa.OO each; and $12.00 for
each 8050/8250 disk (8050 format). We do honour
purchase orders from school boards.

computer and a .

Description

tapes

These tapes are for use with a

If for a PET computer, what model -

3 Letter/No. Code Description

disk drive.

4040 or 80SO
Format

Price

Total $

.00

To order VIC 20 or Commodore 64 library
tapes, send S6.00 for each tape.
To order PET/CBM or Commodore Educa
ttonal Software, send SIO.OO for each tape.

_ computer and a datasette.
BASIC - 1.0( ); 2.0( ); 4.0( )?
Price

Totals

.00

The prices indicated include postage and handling as well as
Ontario Provincial Sales Ts)i. (if applicable)

D Cheque/money order enclosed (payable to TPUG)

Reviews.

NEWSROOM

f ■ r- o I'i S p r ■ i r± 9' .ti o a. r- d
Milce Martirx

TEE

First released for the Apple Computer,
Newsroom is now available for the Com-
modore 64/128 and IBM computers. This
most interesting combination of program
modules must have been a three-bottle
Aspirin project for the programmer. It is
somewhat complicated, and requires a
great deal of disk swapping, but it works.
The results are worth it.

As a former television journalist, I was
told by both coworkers and management
that I would be most successful if T wrote
in a style that could be easily understood
by a 12 year old. This program is writ-
ten for that age group, but contains in-
formation that will interest adults as well.
This is a theme package that gives both
insight into the operations of a newspaper
and the tools to produce one.

While the program is complicated,
la'vish use of icons makes it manageable.
After half an hour with the program, you
won't need to refer to the manual ^ain.
All of the features are well organized and
easy to grasp. Each operation is depart-
mentalized, so that the production of a
newsletter follows a flow through the
various departments of a newspaper.

The opening pane! offers the choice of
Photo Lab, Press, Wire Service, Banner,
Copy Desk or Layout. You start by enter-
ing the Photo Lab, and accessing a library
of 600 pieces of 'clip' art. These cuts are
combined into 109 panels on the disk. An
additional disk is available v,ith 600 more
cuts. The included disk seems to be most-
ly for kids with cartoon-style drawings.
The second disk is oriented towards
adults.

A panel usually contains five or six
drawings, any one of which can be
selected by moving the Hand Icon onto
the drawing, then hitting the fire button

on the joystick or KoalaPad. The program
flips you back to the workspace, and
displays the drawing and hand. The draw-
ing may be dragged into position and
dropped anywhere desired. The hand will
continue to drag the drawing over the
page, and may drop it into as many addi-
tional places as desired.

The composite can be changed using a
powerful drawdng program with all the
usual features of a good art program, ex-
cept colour. Various brush widths, zoom,
flip, and multiple fill patterns are provid-
ed. The Zoom feature works better than
on most other similar packages, as you
don't need to set it to erase or draw. If
you start on a white block, and press the
fire button, every block you pass over
turns black. If you start on a black block,
every block you pass over turns white. It
is easy to draw without accidentally
reversing blocks that you didn't want to
change. The drawings may not be enlarg-
ed or reduced in size. Text may be added
as captions in two sizes and three styles.
The drawing is then cropped to size and
stored as a photo file on your data disk.

In the Copy Desk area, the photo file
is recalled, then placed in one of the five
to ten panels used to make up a page. The
copy desk is a simple but effective text
editor, used to write the articles and fit
them around the photos. Unlike The
Printshop, you can see and work with the
placement of text and graphics. The in-
dividual panels are saved to disk, organiz-
ed by the Layout Room, and recalled in
the Press Room for printing.

The program supports 34 printers and
7 interfaces. Text and photos may be
transferred by modem to other
Newsrooms, even between different
computer brands. The program comes in
a sturdy plastic library case for storage.

Extensive information is included on
operating a newspaper, interview techni-
ques, and standard proofreading
notation.

The resultant program is excellent, but
there are limitations, I tried about 15 dif-
ferent combinations of printers and inter-
faces but, in each case, the printed ver-
sion was vertically compacted in relation
to the screen version. While it is possible
to exercise more control over the place-
ment of art cuts and text than with The
PrintBhop, you are still limited to certain
formats for your newsletter.

More than one art cut may be used on
each page, but they must be placed within
the boxes that divide each page. A stan-
dard page contains a banner, or header,
at the top of the page , and two columns
of 3 blocks each. You edit and save the
newsletter 1/8 of a page at a time. You
could use up to 50 different art cuts on
a page if you could fit them all in.
However, composing a page on
Newsroom would take two or three
hours — considerably more than the three
or four minutes necessary to produce a
page with The Printshop. The choice of
typefaces is limited and, while of good
quality, do not compare to a standard
printout or near letter quality printout
from your printer. The printout is single
pass, single density, and will leave a
noticeable dot pattern if you have an old
ribbon.

As in all 'write-downs' from other com-
puter formats, there are sacrifices. The
instruction manual is written for all three
formats, and the differences stand out
sharply. Instructions are given in the Ap-
ple section on how to back up your disk.
The IBM section tells how to run the pro-
gram on your hard disk. The Commodore
section warns against trying to back up
the disk, and offers a backup for 12
dollars a disk.

All things considered, the program is
a monumental achievement. It fills a need
for the home computer and is well worth
the purchase price. More importantly, it
works. While comparisons with the
features of The Printshop, Doodle and
Blazing Paddles are useful, this program
is not really all that similar to any of
them. It is a much needed middle ground
between them. Also, a disk will soon be
available offering some of the graphics
from this package for use with The
Printshop. D

40 Issue 22

Crusade In Europe

from Microprose

WW II simulation game
for Commodore 64

Review by Dave Dempster

Crusade In Europe (CIE) is a large-scale
simulation of the war in Western Europe
from the June 1944 invasion through the
Battle of the Bulge in the following
winter. The game system, similar to that
of Decision In The Desert is superb, and
the developers, Sid Meier and Ed Bever,
deserve a cold frothy one for their efforts
~ on me if you guys get to Ottawa.

The game has 13 scenarios, based on
four main battles, plus a campaign-length
'Battle For France' dating from June 6
through to October. 1 believe you'd use
the Save Game option on the latter. The
game can be played with 1, 2 or players.
Normally, watching the machine play
against itself (the player option) is a
good indication of how the cunning beast
thinks, but I was unable to figure it out
in this ease. The game is free-running
rather than structured in turns. The pace
of the game can be set on start-up, and
you can freeze the action to think your
way out of particularly sticky situations.
There is also a mechanism to adjust play
balance, so both neophyte and veteran
can play and enjoy.

The rule book is clean and descriptive,
and contains a considerable amount of
useful historical data and even some tac-
tical notes. A Command/Unit/Terrain
sheet is included to facilitate play.

There are 16 types of terrain, and 20
types of units ranging from air support
units, airborne units, and armour to static
German coast -defence units. The display
on my 1701 monitor is superb. For most
scenarios, the window must be scrolled
to see the whole map. Terrain can be
clearly discerned and, if you want, all
units can be removed to see only the map.

Units are displayed as either little icons
or military type symbols — your choice .
Information on individual units includes
type, strength, supply state, and orders:
whether and where they have been
directed to move, attack or defend, as
well as their active or reserve status. You
can also get considerable information on
enemy units once you've engaged them.

Commands are entered through
keyboard or joystick; I much preferred

the former. Units respond to action com-
mands in accordance with delays to
reconfigure their formation to foUow your
directions. Those in defensive positions
take longer to prepare for a move but,
once in mobile formation, are much more
vulnerable to attack. Units in assault for-
mation move slowly, but can attack on
contact with their objective, A unit left
in defensive position will continue to dig
in, considerably increasing its defensive
strength as time passes.

Computer response to input isn't
always immediate — I guess that little
6510 is spinning around pretty busily in
there. You can play a limited intelligence
option where enemy units only appear
when you might perceive them and, we're
to believe, your computer doesn't peek at
your positions. The game system is easi-
ly mastered, and permits you to think
about the strategic plan, to change orders
to respond to enemy moves, failed attacks
and so on.

What didn't I like? There is no resign
utility to legitimately end a game short
of dumping the computer. More serious-
ly, I couldn't find a way of launching a
coordinated attack. The paper map,
which shows a sinking (at least it looks
like it's sinking) invasion fleet and
suspiciously 'American'-lookdng tanks at-
tacking in the Ardennes, could have been
more useful. When in limited intelligence
mode, one can still change sides to get the
full intelligence story — a tempation that
perhaps we should not be led to. More
tellingly, there is a design feature that,
if discovered, permits an Allied win every
time — I'm a little surprised that the play
testers missed it.

Would I buy it again? Perhaps not.
Although I very much enjoyed the game
system, I found it a bit large for my little
mind. Scrolling accross nine maps, try-
ing in vain to answer questions like
"Where were those Germans?", "Was
that noise me moving, or him?" and
"Where was the action?" became achore.
Furthermore, as in real life, most battles
quickly became slogging matches — after
all, it's a good simulation. Decision in the
Desert, CIE's little brother, uses the
same system, but more space and fewer
units permit more latitude for manouevre
— it's a classic. It also doesn't have the
'easy win' flaw.

If you're looking for a war simulation,
don't pass this system by. If you can han-
dle the large number of units, by all
means acquire CIE — it's very good.
Otherwise get D in the D. You owe it to
yourself to own at least one of these ex-
cellent games. D

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TPUG Magazine 41

Revlewsj

GT4

Hi-Productivity

Cartridge

from Pro- Line Software

Fast load/save cartridge

with BASIC 4.0

for Commodore 64

Review by Adam Herst

The weakest link in my daisy chain is
definitely the 1541 disk drive. The
MPS802 has always pulled its weight,
although it's beginning to show its age —
two years (that's 140 in printer years) —
and the new 1571 is a delight, having
knocked the 1541 off the pedestal it oc-
cupied after replacing the even more
venerable datasette. Even so, the 1541
works quite well in all three modes of the
C-128 and I was loath to sell it when I
bought my 128 and 1571.

If the 1541 was going to stay, though,
something had to be done about the fact
that it was slow, slow, slow. I had heard
a lot of horror stories about mangled files
and garbaged disks, the result of using
some of the available fast DOS programs
and cartridges, but I was willing to take
the chance in exchange for a few precious
seconds saved (hardly logical). When I did
some comparison shopping, I discovered
a better reason to avoid these programs:
they're not cheap!

It wasn't until the World of Com-
modore show that a relatively inexpen-
sive cartridge caught my eye. The GT4
cartridge, manufactured by Pro-Line and
distributed by Norland Agencies, promis-
ed me a 500 per cent increase in load and
save speeds, both for the C-64 and for the
C-128 (in 64 mode). Combined with a
substantial discount for the show, I just
couldn't resist, and have been using it
ever since.

The GT4 has three modes of operation.
When the computer is powered up, the
fast DOS is automatically enabled,
although there is no outward sign that
this is so. Loading a program soon con-
vinces you. A 121-block long program
that took 81 seconds to load on an
unenhanced 1541 loaded in 19 seconds
with the GT4 enabled. These time savings
are paralleled for saves: the same pro-
gram took 91 seconds to save without the
fast DOS, and 19 seconds with it. As with
most other 1541 enhancers, the GT4 has
no effect on sequential file read and write
speeds.

A second mode of operation is enabled
if the Commodore key is held down dur-
ing power up. When this is done the
power up message shows that BASIC 4.0
is active. As a bonus, GT4 supports nearly
the full complement of BASIC 4.0 disk
commands, the exceptions being copy
and concat. Another small incompatibili-
ty is the use of the dstat command to read
the error channel rather than storing the
value in the reserved variable dsS. Final-
ly, BASIC 4.0 can be shut off using the
disable command to leave the fast DOS
on, or the off command to shut off both.
Reset will cold start your computer.

My primary reason for buying a fast
DOS was to save time when making
backups as I program. If you use your
computer to run commercial programs,
then a fast save is not your first concern.
If this is the case then you will be glad
to know that the GT4 has no problems
loading and running most programs.
BASIC 4.0 mode eats up some RAM and
changes memory locations, and so must
be disabled, but the fast DOS is not
throwTi off by many of the protected disks
I tried out. Most loaded with appreciable
reductions in time.

With both modes shut off the cartridge
is apparently invisible to the computer.
Although the manual warns that it may
be necessary to remove the cartridge to
load and use some programs, this has not
been the reason that I have had to con-
tinually remove it from the expansion
port. The GT4 cartridge is advertised as
operating with the C-64/128. As we 128
users are learning, this means that it
operates in 64 mode on the 128. Unfor-
tunately , it also means that, as long as the
cartridge is in the user port, the computer
will always boot up in 64 mode. The only
way to access the other two modes is to'
yank the cartridge out. This is both in-
convenient and ultimately damaging to
the computer. How hard would it be to
include a disable switch?

Other than that I have no complaints.
In three months of use I haven't lost any
files or disks on either the 1541 or the
1571 in 1541 mode. The 1541 is now so
fast I have trouble telling it apart from
the 1571. With the bonus of BASIC 4.0
commands, and at a list price of $59.95
Canadian {$49.95 US), the GT4 cartridge
is almost a necessity. At Norland's mail
order price of $39.95 Canadian ($29.95
US), it's a bargain that shouldn't be
missed.

GT4 Hi-Productivity Cartridge, from
Pro-Line Software. Distributed by
N&rland Agencies, 251 Nippissing Road,
Unit 3, Milton, Ontario, Canada L9T
JfZ5. Telephone (US) 876-U7n. U

Electronic Phone Book

1) Insert your COMAL disk in drive*.

2) Type LOAD "064 COMAL'*",8

3) Type RUN {starts COMAL)

4) Type AUTO (turn on auto line#'s)

5) Enter the program lines shown below

(COMAL indents lines for you)

6) Hit RETURN key twice when done

7) Type RUN

e=enter f=find l=U8t

f

What name? COMAL

COMAL Users Group 608-222-4432

0010 dim name$ of 20, phone$ of 12

0020 dim disks of 2

0030 black:=0; white:=l; yenow:=7

0040 background black

0050 repeat

0060 pencolor white

0070 print "e=enter f=fmd l=li3t"

0080 case keyj of

0D90 when ''e'',"E"

0100 enter'name

0110 when "fiT"

0120 input "What name?": namet

0130 find'name(name$)

OHO when"r,"L"

0150 fmd'name("")

0160 otherwise

0170 print chr$(l47) //clearscreen

0180 endcase

0190 until true^false //forever

0200 //

0210 proc enter'name

0220 input "Enter name : ": name$

0230 input "Enter phone; ": phone!

0240 if name$>"" then add'to'file

0250 endproc enter'name

0260 //

0270 proc add'toTile

0280 open file 2,"phone.dat",append

0290 disk!>:=9tatusj

0300 if disk$<>"00" then

0310 close // data file not found

0320 open file 2|"phone,dat", write

0330 endif

0340 write file 2: name$,phone$

0350 close

0360 endproc add'toTile

0370 //

0380 proc find'name(Bearch$)

0390 zone 21 // set auto tab to 21

0400 pencolor yellow

0410 open file 2, "phone.dat", re ad

0420 while not eof(2) do

0430 read file 2: name$, phone $

0440 if searchS in name$ then

0450 print name$,phone$

0460 endif

0470 endwhile

0480 close

0490 print "Hit <return> when ready"

0500 while key$<>chr$(13) do null

0510 endproc find'name

* If you don't have COMAL yet, order a
Programmer's Paradise Package -il9.95,
It includes the complete COMAL system
plus over 400 pages of information. Add
J5 more to get our 20 interactive lesson
Tutorial Disk. Add %2 shipping. Visa/MC
or US funds check accepted. Send to:

COMAL Users Group USA

6041 Monona Drive, Room 109
Madison, WI 53716
phone 608-222-4432

42 Issue 22

The Commodore
Plus/4 Book

by Sarah C. Meyer

Howard W. Sams

and Company

$16.95 (US)

295 pages (paperback)

Review by Jerry
and Betty Schueler

This book is a very nice, user-oriented
manual for the Plus/4 owner. It is not a
book for programmers. However, if you
look at the Plus/4 as a tool to get a job
done, then this book will probably be
worthwhile.

It begins with an introduction to the
Plus/4 in terms of available hardware and
software. One chapter is devoted to how
to use the built-in software. Another
chapter is devoted to how to choose the
software you need. This chapter covers
the commercial software available for the
Plus/4 — all made by Commodore. The
book also contains an excellent introduc-
tion to the keyboard.

If you are a non-technical end -user, this
book will supplement the manuals that
come with the computer. D

Commodore 64
Exposed

by Bruce Bayley

Melbourne House

$14.95 (US)

198 pages (paperback)

Review by Jerry

and Betty Schueler

This excellent book covers all aspects of
the Commodore 64, but beginners
beware: it is not designed for you. It is
a very good book for the intermediate or
advanced programmer. Just about all
aspects are covered, quickly and neatly.
Utility routines include, merging, line
renumbering and line deleting. Machine
language is used throughout, and in-
troduced in superior fashion in Chapter
6. This chapter includes a simple machine
code monitor. Although there is little in
this book that isn't covered in the Pro-
grammer's Reference Guide, the useful
examples provide help in putting it all
together. D

VIC BASIC

by Ramon Zamora,
Don Inman,

Bob Albrecht

and DYMAX

Reston Publishing Connpany

$17,95 US (hardback)

$12.95 US (paperback)

360 pages (paperback)

Review by Jerry
and Betty Schueler

This book is for anyone who wants to
learn programming on the VIC 20. It in-
cludes attractive and humorous artwork
with lots of simple examples. All aspects
of programming in BASIC are covered,
including graphics and sound. Each
chapter ends with a summary and a set
of exercises. Don't worry if you have
trouble with these — the answers are in-
cluded as well. The examples and car-
toons are geared for teenagers, but most
adults will probably enjoy this entertain-
ing way to learn BASIC programming. D

Commodore 16

User's Manual

Edited by C.W. Moody

Howard W. Sams

and Company

$12.95 (US)

216 pages (paperback)

Review by Jerry

and Betty Schueler

This book has one main thing in its
favour: it is the only book on the C-16 that
is currently available. There is little that
comes with the C-16 itself (The Com-
modore 16 Owner's Marmcd is as bad as
the Atari manual — and that's bad.).

TOth this in mind, we highly recom-
mend this book for all C-16 owners. It wiU
get you started using your computer and
show you how to program it. It explains
the HELP key, how to make windows,
how to use the function keys and many
other useful things. Each statement in
the built-in BASIC 3.5 is discussed. Ad-
ditional useful information can be found
in the Appendix, including ASCII codes,
musical notes, and how to use the built-
in TEDMON machine language monitor.

Easy Curves

1) Insert your COMAL disk in drive*

2) Type LOAD "064 COMAL*", 8

3) Type RUN (starts COMAL)

4) Type AUTO (turn on auto line#'B)

5) Enter the program lines ihown below

(COMAL indents lines for you)

6) Hit RETURN key twice when done

7) Type RUN

0010 setup

0020 curve

0030 painfit

0040 add'words

0050 //

0060 proc setup

0070 black:r;0; yel!ow:=7

0080 background black

0090 pencolor yellow

0100 setgraphic //hi rea screen

0110 hideturtle

0120 endproc setup

0130 //

0140 proc curve

0150 moveto 110,0

0160 drawto 110,199

0170 for row:=0 to 10 step .03 do

0180 drawto H0-l-99*8in(row),row*20

0190 endfor row

0200 endproc curve

0210 //

0220 proc paint'it

0230 fill 120,20

0240 fill 100,90

0250 fill 120,180

0260 fill 100,198

0270 endproc paint'it

0280 //

0290 proc add'words

0300 pencolor black

0310 background yellow

0320 plottext 120,155,"comal is a"

0330 plottext 16,90,"programmerB"

0340 plottext 120.30,"paradi3e'

0350 endproc add'words

Notice how easy graphics are in COMAL.
Lines 70-100 set up the screen colors.
Lines 150-190 draw on the screen.
Lines 230-260 fill (paint) whole parts.
Even putting text on the graphic screen
is easy. See lines 320-340. All this is
standard and built in as part of COMAL.
Plus a full turtle graphics system. Now
you know why there are 100,000 users.

• If you don't have COMAL yet, order a
Programmer's Paradise Packaire -ll9.95.
It includes the complete COMAL system
plus over 400 pages of information. Add
tS more to get our 20 interactive lesson
Tutorial Disk. Add $2 shipping. Visa/MC
or US funds check accepted. Send to:

COMAL Users Group USA

6041 Monona Drive, Room 109
Madison, WI 63716
phone 608-233-4433

TPUG Magazine 43

Products Received

Presented by Astrid Kumas

ThefolLowing -prodwcts have been received
by TPUG Magazine in recent iveeks.
Please note that these descriptions are
based on the manufacturers' own
announcements, and are not the result of
evaluation by TPUG Magazine.

Electronic Word Book

Richard Scarry's Best Electronic Word
Book Ever from CBS Software, One
Fawcett Place, Greenwich, Connecticut
06836. Price: $19.95 (US).

Richard Scarry's books and illustrations
have won the hearts of many youngsters.
His imaginative characters come now on-
to a computer screen in CBS Software
Richard Scarry's Best Electronic Word
Book Ever for Commodore 64. It is a
reading-readiness adventure program for
children aged five and up. Its aim is to
provide young computer users with such
skills as word identification, vocabulary
building, object recognition and word/ob-
ject association. The product includes two
disks and a short instruction booklet.

The principal character of the program
is Lowly Wor, who visits six different en-
vironments: a farm, a railroad yard, a
construction site, a town, a park and a
harbour. On the way, the player helps
Lowly Worm discover objects and words.

The program offers four skill ievels.
Stop, Look and Listen (level 1) gives
children an opportunity to see the sights.
While travelling through a particular en-
vironment, they can bring to life
animated objects, and at the same time
see the name of the object appear on the
screen. The exploration is a pleasure: the
animated graphics are fun to watch, and
the accompanying sound effects and
music, featuring familiar childhood tunes,
are very enjoyable.

On level 2 — Get the Picture ~ children
are asked to locate and match the pic-
tures, while on Level 3 — Word Patrol
— they have to find the object that mat-
ches the word shown on the screen.

Skill level 4, Scavenger Hunt, is a very
challenging activity. Young readers are
shown a list of nine words from several
environments, and then must find the
corresponding objects scattered
throughout the locations.

The program introduces children to
over one hundred important words, and
makes the learning process really en-
joyable. The program is easy enough to
use that adult supervision is not required.

Computers For Handicapped

Computer Technology for the Handicap-
ped in Special Education and Rehabilita-
tion: A Resource Guide, Volume I and II
from ICCE Publications, 1787 Agate
Street, University of Oregon, Eugene,
Oregon 97403-1923. Price: Resource
Guide II - SIO.OO (US); Guides I and H
— $15.00 (US). Discount rates are offered
for multiple copies.

Those who read Malcolm J. MacArthur's
article Microcomputers and the handicap-
ped in this issue, and are interested in the
subject, will be glad to know that Inter-
national Council for Computers in Educa-
tion (ICCE) has published A Resource
Guide, volumes 1 and II, on the applica-
tion of computer technology for the han-
dicapped. These two volumes present an
extensive coverage of informational
resources up to 1985. Resource Guide I
describes 191 resources through 1982,
and the newly-published Resource Guide
n describes over 300 more recent
resources. Included are books, chapters
in books, journal articles, research
grants, organizations, newsletters, clear-
ing houses, special issues of journals, and
conference proceedings.

All references are thoroughly an-
notated, and an author and subject index
are provided. The computer applications
range from computer-assisted instruction
to functional aids, computer management
in special education and rehabilitation.
Physical and developmental disabilities
represented in the Resource Guide in-
clude mentally retardation, learning
disability, visual impairment, hearing im-
pairment, quadriplegia, autism, emo-
tional handicaps and cerebral palsy.

The Teacher's Aide

The Teacher's Aide from T'Aide Soft-
ware Company, P.O. Box 65, El Mirage,
Arizona 85335. Price: PET/CBM/8050
(one disk), $100,00 (US);
PET/CBM/2040/4040/2031 (two disks),
§105.00 (US); C-64/all disk drives (one
disk), $100.00 (US).

The Teacher's Aide is designed to help
teachers of mathematics and parents in

producing standard, ready-to-use exer-
cise sheets.

The C-64 version contains sixteen pro-
grams on one disk. The first six programs
concentrate on basic mathematics, and
feature all operations applicable to in-
tegers, decimals, fractions and percent.
Programs seven to sixteen are the
algebra programs. Signed number opera-
tions, linear, fractional and quadratic
equations, together with complex
arithmetic, are all covered in this section.
The manufacturer claims that the number
of excercise sheets that may be created
by any given program is practically
unlimited.

There is also a statistical grading pro-
gram called Curve that will enable the
teacher to determine the marks and stan-
dard deviation of marks or test scores and
student rankings.

The T'Aide program is 'dongle'-

protected, so backup copies of the disk
can be made, but will not run unless the
supplied dongle — a small device — is
plugged into the computer. q

THE ULTIMATE SIMULATION

STAR TRei^NNG

THE GAME

Version II

For The M And 128

• Impressive Graphics
With Hi-Res Fealures

• Realistic Sound

• Strate|,ic Thought Involvemeni

• The Only Game That Parallels
The T.V. Series And Movies

UFL AND

Dept. A
P.O. Box 1324
Meaford, Ont.
NOH lYO. Canada
(519) 538-1758

Not Available On CosseMe

$21.95 Cdn. $19.95 U.S.

First Closs Postage Included
Ont. Residents Add 7% Provincial Soles Tox

Even Spocic Would
Find It Challenging

44 Issue 22

Calendar of TPUG Events

Meeting Places

Brampton Chapter: Brampton Public Library, Four Corners
Branch, 65 Queen St., on the second Thursday of the month,
at 7:30 pm.

Business Chapter: TPUG Office, 101 Duncan Mill Rd., Suite
G-7, Don Mills, on the second Wednesday of the month, at 7:30
pm.

COMAL Chapter: York Pubhc Library, 1745 Eglinton Ave. W.
(just east of Dufferin) on the fourth Thursday of the month, at
7:30 pm in the Story Hour Room (adjacent to the auditorium).

Commodore 128 Chapter: York Public Library, 1745 Eglinton
Ave. W. (just east of Dufferin), on the first Wednesday of the
month, at 7:30 pm in the storybook room.

Commodore 64 Chapter: York Mills CL 490 York Mills Rd. (east
of Bayview) on the last Monday of the month, at 7:30 pm in the
cafetorium.

Communications Chapter: TPUG Office, 101 Duncan Mill Rd.,
Suite G-7, Don Mills, on the fourth Wednesday of the month,
at 7:30 pm.

Eastside Chapter: Dunbarton High School (go north on Whites
Rd. from the traffic lights at Highway 2 and Whites Rd. to next
traffic lights; turn left to parking lots) on the first Monday of
the month, at 7:30 pm.

APRIL

MON

TUBS

WED

THURS

1

VIC 20

2

C-128

3

7

Eastside

8

Hardware

9

Business

10

Brampton

14

15

16

SuperPET

17

Westside

21

New Users

22

23

Communications

24

COMAL

28

Commodore 64

29

30

Hardware Chapter- TPUG Office, 101 Duncan Mill Rd., Suite
G-7, Don Mills, on the second Tuesday of the month, at 7 pm.

New Users Chapter: TPUG Office, 101 Duncan Mill Rd., Suite
G-7, Don Mills, on the third Monday of the month, at 7 pm.

SuperPET Chapter: York University, Petrie Science Building
(check in room 340). Use north door of Petrie to access building.
On the third Wednesday of the month, at 7:30 pm.

VIC 20 Chapter: York Public Library, 1745 Eglinton Ave. W.
(just east of Dufferin), on the first Tuesday of the month, at 7:30
pm in the auditorium.

Westside Chapter: Clarkson Secondary School, Bromsgrove
just east of Winston Churchill Blvd., on the third Thursday of
the month, at 7:30 pm.

TPUG makes e\'enj effort to ensure that, meetings take place when
and where scheduled. However, unforeseer). -problems may occa-
sicmaily arise that lead to a partictdar meeting being changed
m- cancelled. The TPUG meetings line (U0-SO4O) is the best source
of fully up-to-date infomiatimi on meeting tim^s. and should be
considted.

Are you interested in organizing some other interest group in
the Greater Toronto area? Please let the club office know, by mail,
phone or TPUG bulletin board. □

MAY

MON

TUBS

WED

THURS

1

5

Eastside

6

VIC 20

7

c-128

8

Brampton

12

13

Hardware

14

Business

15

Westside

19

20

New Users

21

SuperPET

22

COMAL

26

Commodore 64

27

28

Communications

29

TPUG Magazine 45

Ask Someone Who Knows

If you enjoy Jim Strasma's many books, and his
articles in this and other magazines, you'll be glad
he also edits his own highly-acclaimed computer
magazine, now in its sixth year of continuous
publication, Written just for owners of Com-
modore's many computers, each Midnite Software
Gazette contains hundreds of brief, honest
reviews.

Midnite also features timely Commodore
news, hints and articles, all organized for instant
reference, and never a wasted word. Whether you
are just beginning or a long-time hobbyist, each
issue will help you and your computer to work
together effectively.

A six issue annual subscription is $23. To
subscribe, or request a sample issue, just write:

MIDNITE SOFTWARE GAZETTE

P.O. Box 1747

Champaign, IL 61820

You'll be glad you didl

Tune your Computer into

• MIDI •

If you own a Commodore, Atari ST, or
Apple, then you may want to turn it on
to the world of Music with a keyboard
and interface. We stock the most popular
MIDI interfaces (starting at $49.95) plus
we have a limited offer on the CASIO
CZlOl Digital MIDI Synth, for only $269
It's easy to turn your computer into a
player piano* with the QRS Player Piano
Roll Disks that feature music from 1900's
to today (from Scott Joplin to Madonna).
Interfaces with a 6 song music disk start
as low as $49.95 and the demo has
Gershwin playing Rhapsody in Blue.

We have sequencer soft-
ware, cables, CASIO and
KORG keyboards, nnusic
disks, MID! interfaces,
plus more. Write or call
for more information.

CALL -201 -8389027
or write us a1

DISTRIBUTING INC

DEALER INQUIRES INVITED
♦REQUIRES MID! KEYBOARD

Super-OS/9* Is Here

TPUG has implemented the popular 6809 operating
system OS-9* on the SuperPET. Super-OS/9 greatly
expands the software availability and the hardware
capability of the SuperPET while preserving access
to the Waterloo languages and programs.

The cost of Super-OS/9 to club members is §210
(Cdn) (plus $10 shipment/handling Ontario residents
add 7% PST), which includes the cost of a hardware
modification that will not affect the normal operation
of your SuperPET, installation instructions and the
operating system disks.

To obtain your copy please send your cheque or
money order to:

TPUG

101 Duncan Mill Rd., Suite G-7

Don Mills, Ontario

Canada MSB 1Z3

What does Super-OS/9 offer?

• A true disk operating with features found on UNIX*
systems and on the AMIGA.

• Multi-tasking and multi-user capability.

• Hierarchical directory structure with time /date stamps.

• Programmable file access privileges for increased
security.

Extensive software is available for OS-9, most
of which runs on Super-OS/9.

Super-OS/9 VI. 1 includes an assembler, editor,
symbolic debugger, communication software and ter-
minal emulation package. Available languages include
BASIC09, CIS COBOL, Fortran 77, Pascal. Lisp, C
and others. Application software include wordproces-
sors, spelling checkers, data bases and spread sheet
programs,

TPUG has acquired public domain software and
will assist users in the conversion of commercial soft-
ware to Commodore format.

Portability and Expandability

• Super-OS/9 programs will run on all OS-9 based
computers (like the CoCo).

• Super-OS/9 will support standard disk drives (IBM
format) and the Hi-res graphics board (700 x 300 dots).

• Super-OS/9 software is C compatible with OS-9 68k
and AT&T Unix system V.

For further information call TPUG Inc. at
(416) 445-4524, ask for Bruce.

NOTE: If you own a 3 board SuperPET and wish to
acquire Super-OS/9, please call TPUG before, order-
ing Super-OS/9, for info about a hardware fix to a
design error in your SuperPET computer.

Super-OS/9 is a trade mark of TPUG and Avygdor Moise.
OS-9 is a trademark of .Microware and Motorola.
UNIX is a trade mark of Bell Laboratories.

ATTENTION

ALL COMMODORE 64,

VIC20, COMM. 16AND

COMMODORE 128 owners

A complete self-tutoring BASIC programming course
IS now available. This course starts with turning
your computer on, to programming just about
anything you want! This course is currently used
in both High School and Adult Evening Education
classes and has also formed the basis of teacher
literacy programs. Written by a teacher, who after
having taught the course several times, has put
together one of the finest programming courses
available today. This complete 13 lesson course
of over 220 pages is now available for the COM-
MODORE 64, VIC 20, COMMODORE 16 and the
COMMODORE 128and takes you step by step thru
a discovery approach to programming and you
can do it all in your leisure time! The lessons are fil-
led with examples and easy to understand explanat-
ions as well as many programs for you to make up.
At the end of each lesson is a test of the information
presented. Furthermore, ALL answers are supplied
to all the questions and programs, including the
answers to the tests. Follow this course step by
step, lesson by lesson, and turn yourself into a
real programmer! You won't be disappointed!

We will send this COMPLETE course to you at
once for just $19.95 plus $3.00 for shipping and
handling {U.S. residents, please pay in U.S. funds).
If you are not COMPLETELY satisfied, then simply
return the course within 10 days of receipt for a

FULL refund.

Now available! a 200 page course
exclusively on sequential and rel-
ative files using a unique approach
for those with very limited file programming ex-
perience - set up your own personal and business
records! — disk drive a must — same author —
same guarantee — same cost — this course for
all computers except Vic 20.
Fill in the coupon or send a facsimile.

FOLLOW UP
COURSE

1 NAME-

-_,

1 ADDRFSR- [

[ CITY:

1 PROV/RTATF- 1

PnSTAU71P CODF- 1

1 1 desire the BASIC program-
1 ming course for:
1 Commodore 64 ~ Vic 20 1
1 Comm. 128 ~ Comm, 16 L

1 1 desire the FOLLOW-UP Q
1 course on relative and seq-
uential files for all above
computers but Vic 20).

Any complete course: 519.95 1
Postaae and Handling: $3.00 j
Total: $22.95 |

Send Cheque or Money Order to |
Branlford Educational Services [
6 Pioneer Place. |
Brantford, Ontario. i
Canada N3R 7G7 ,

INTRODUCING

THE HRT SUPER-RES

GRAPHICS BOARD

This IS a graphics board which is universally compatible with all imodels of
PETs With Superpels(both 2 and 3 boards) It works eqially well on both the
6502 and 6809 side as well as with OS-9,

Please send cheque or MO for S200.00 U.S /s:'5 .OOOiiv plus S5 shipping
and handling (Ontario residents please add 7% Prov. Sales Tax) To HIGH RES
TECHNOLOGIES, 16 ENGLISHIVYWAY. TORONTO, ONTARIO M2H 3M4.
Note: Please specify computer and disk drive model numbers.

[416] 497-8493

Classifieds

This space is for the ads of TPUG nnembers. Wanted
or for sale items only. Cost is 2S cents per word. No
deater ads accepted.

For sale: Commodore 4040 dual disk drive with cable,
manual, demo disk and dust cover. Batteries Included
BusCard II IEEE-488 interface for C-64 with manual and
parallel printer cable. Both for $500,00 US, shipping in-
cluded. Call Steve Leth at (302) 774-9518 days, (609)
346-9116 evenings and weekends.

For sale: 4040 dual drive; 8023P 1 50 cps printer. Must sell:
best offer. Call Cecil after 6 pm at (416) 823-5736.

For sale: 8032 Computer with 8050 Drive and 4022 Printer.
Waterloo BASIC and Consultant data base. $1,100.00
complete, or w/ill consider selling parts. Mike Ware (416)
843-0327 (home), (416) 743-8000 (work).

For sate: CBM 8032 (upgraded to 96K), 8050 drives. IVIX-80
printer, plus many programs/manuals including PaperClip.
CalcResult, Master, PETSpeed, WP4 + , Manager, Oracle.
$1,700.00. Call (416) 820-0473.

Wanted: For 8032, 8050. VisiCalc and 8010 300-baud
acoustic modem. Call Fred (616) 429-7163.

1526 Printer (Commodore), brand new. $200.00. Call (416)
270-6659.

mfkmfdliiaiaimljfiil

\m

BMB Compuscience Canada

31

Brantford Educational Services

47

Cheatsheet Products Inc.

17

COMAL Users Group, USA

42,43

Commodore Business Machines

BC

Comspec Communications

7

Computer Rentals

31

Computer Workshops

31

John Dunlop & Associates

17

Electronics 2001

3

Joan Evanson Insurance Services

38

High Res Technologies

47

Mercer Hildebrand

31

Micol Systems

17

Micro Solutions

7

Micro-W Disiributing

46

Midnile Software Gazette

46

Mimic Systems Inc.

iOC

Programmers Guild Products

36

Rich-Hill Telecom International

41

Traico Educational Software

31

TPUG (Disk Subscriptions)

IFC

TPUG (OS/9)

46

TPUG (OS/9 Software)

37

The Transactor

7

Ufland Software Inc.

44

Voyageur

31

Wilanta Arts

29

TPUG Magazine
Distributors

DetUerg: If you w<mld like to carry TPUG Magazine in

your store, you may order from any one of the following
distributors:

CANADA

Compulit Distributors, Port Coqoitlam, BC 604-464-1221

USA

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Levity Distributors, North Hollywood, CA 818-506-7958

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Cornucopia Distribution, Seattle, WA 206-323-6247

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Total Circulation, South Hackensack, NJ 201/342-6334

TPUG Contacts

TPUG OFFICE 416/445-4524

TPUG BBS 416/273-6300

TPUG MEETINGS INFO 416/445-9040

Board of Directors

President

Chris Bennett

c/o 416/445-4524

Vice-President

Gerry Gold

416/225-8760

Vice-President

Carl Epstein

416/492-0222

Recording Sec.

Doris Bradley

416/782-7320

David Bradley

c/o 416/445-4524

Richard Bradley

c/o 416/445-4524

Gary Croft

416/727-8795

Mike Donegan

416/639-0329

John Easton

416/251-1511

Keith Falkner

416/481-0678

Anne Gudz

c/o 416/445-4524

Genera! Manager

Bruce Hampson

416/445-4524

TPUG Magazine

Publisher

Bruce Hampson

416/445-4524

Editor

Nick Sullivan

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Meeting Co-ordinators

Brampton Chapter

Jackie Bingley

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C-64 Chapter

Louise Redgers

416/447-4811

COMAL Chapter

Donald Dalley

416/742-3790

Victor Gough

416/677-8840

Communications

Darrell Grainger

c/o 416/445-4524

Eastside Chapter

Judith Willans

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Hardware Chapter

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SuperPET Chapter

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416/225-8760

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Anne Gudz

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519/442-7000

Business Chapter

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New Users Chapter

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C-128 Chapter

Adam Herst

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COMAL

Victor Gough

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PET

Mike Donegan

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Richard Best

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Derick Campbell

416/492-9518

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Paul Aitchison

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Amiga

Mike Donegan

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Adam Herst (CP/M)

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James Kokkinen (C-128) " 1

TPUG Bulletin Board

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HOW TO GET

OVER $2000 WORTH OF NEW

CAPABILITIES FOR YOUR

COMMODORE 64"

OR $599

The Spartan'" is the Appte'" II + emulator for your Commodore 64'" that will open
up a whole new world of hardware and software for youl Imagine adding these
features to your Commodore 64'" for the Spartan™ price of S599: D Apple '"11 +
hardware and software capabilities D 64K RAfVI expansion □ four
software selectable Commodore 64™ cartridge slots Q non-dedicated 8-bit
parallel port Q standard audio cassette deck capabilities for your C-64'".
The suggested retail value of comparable products offering only these
capabilities is over S2200.00* — but the Spartan'" gives you much, much
more! By building on your investment in your Commodore 64™ — an
excellent introductory computer — you create a whole new system
with both C-64'" and Apple'" 11+ capabilities. There is a whole other
world out therel The huge selection of Apple'" 11+ hardware and
software is now yours to explore! Call toll free for the Spartan'"

dealer nearest you. '

FOR INFORMATION WRITE:

MIMIC SYSTEMS INC.

1 1 12 FORT ST., FL. 6L
VICTORIA, B.C.
CANADA V8V 4V2

•All puces quolad Qie In US- funds, frelghl and ia»es not included. Volua of componenti equlvolefl)
lo m« Spatlon ■ system ate quoted Itom Apple" II + CPU and Apple" 11+ single disk drive 1981
list pttces. and (rom current sugsesled llsl prices ana component specKlcalrons ot other
peripheral monuloctufers Commodore 64"' end Commodore logo ore trodemarks of
Commodore Eleclronlcs Lid. and or Cor^^^nodorB Business Moctilrws. Inc. Apple • II + Is a
trodemark ol Apple Computer Inc. Sporran' Is a trademark ot Mimic Systems Inc. and has
no ossoclotlon wim commodoie Electronics or Apple Computer Inc. The Sportan- Is
manufactured by Mimic Systems Ira under license granted by ATG Electronics Inc. ol

Victoria. B.C. Canada.

TO ORDER CALL

4-800-MODULAR

(663-85271

YOU'VE ALWAYS HAD A LOT OF COMPETITION.
NOW YOU CAN HAVE AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE.

Amiga's 4,096 colours give
your business grapliics a
visible advantage.

Nobody ever said it was going to be
easy. But it just got easier. Now ttiere's
Amiga.™ The first and oniy computer to
give you a creative edge. Amiga
mal<es you iook better, sound better,
work faster and more productively

You can't buy a computer at any
price thiat tias ail of Amiga's features,
Nor can you find one ttiat's easier to
use, Amiga lets you point at symbols
instead of learning complicated
commands.

Amiga is friendly, but it's a power-
tiouse, too. It tias twice the memory of
Macintosh™ or IBM ' PC. It costs less
than either of them and can do every-
thing they can do, better

No other personal computer gives
you over 4,000 colours, stereo sound
and incredible dimension. Imagine
the advantage of preparing business
presentations with colour graphics
and sophisticated animation right on
your computer,

Need to make creative use of your
time? Amiga can do as many as four
or five things at once in separate win-
dows on the screen. Not just display
them. Work on them. No other personal
computer can,

Amiga is IBM-compatible, too. A sim-
ple piece of soflware teaches Amiga
to emulate the IBM operating system,
so you can run most IBM programs.
You'll have instant access to the largest
library of business software in the
world, including favourites like Lotus'
1,2,3, and dBase,'

And Amiga is endlessly expandable
and adaptable. You can plug in
printers (almost any kind), modems,
musical keyboards, extra disk drives,
You can even expand the memory to
a whopping 8 megabytes with an
optional expansion module.

See an Authorized Amiga Dealer
near you. And don't wait. Your compe-
tition is gaining on you. Is that fair?

Amiga by Commodore.

Amiga mal<es telecommunica- Amiga's 4 channels of stereo
tionsfast, easyand colourful. give you a sound advantage.

^AMIGA GIVES YOU A CREATIVE EDGE.

™Amiga is a trademark of Commodofe-Amigc, Inc. ""Macintosh is a trodemark ticereedto Appte Compcler. Inc. "BM is Q regislered trodemork ct Internot-onol Business Machines Co;poraHon
'Lohjs is a registefcd tradeinarltcf Lolus De«fopaienlCorpO(ation. *dBQse is a registefed tfodemark of Ashton-Tote. Inc ''■?19a5 Commodore Business Machines Limited